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T II E 



HISTORY 



OF THE 



WHITE MOUNTAINS, 



FROM THE 



FIRST SETTLEMENT 



OF 



UPPER COOS 



ANT) 



PEQUAKET. 



By Lucy, Wife of Ethan Allen Crawford, Esq. 
— ■ .. ^\ . - 



WHITE HILLS: Pp^iU... 
1846, 



MfV 






Entered accorcTmg to Act of Congress, in the year 1845, 

BY LITCY CRAWFORD, 

In the Clerk's Office of the District Court of 
New Hampshire. 



PBINTED BT T. A. & A, T. SEEKISH, 
» 74. Middle Street, Portlixid. 



INTRODUCTION. 



It may be enquired, by some persons, what has be- 
come of Crawford, the Mountaineer, or Ethan of the 
Hills ? It will be the endeavor of the Authoress of this 
Tale to relate some of his misfortunes and adventures, 
briefly as possible, it being always a rule with him to 
make short stories and not go a great way round ta|efFect 
a small thing. 

This she has done, in his own language, as nearly as 
she could, for the information of others and the benefit 
of all of her own family whom she is desirous of bringing 
up and making useful members of society. These are 
all true statements of things which have taken place 
within her own knowledge, since she has been living with 
him. These facts he was unwilling, at first, to have pub- 
lished, as he did not wish to expose those who seemed to 
be against him : they have been stated in as moderate 
terras as possible, as we do not wish to injure the feelings 
even of enemies if we have any such. It will readily be 
seen why he was always involved in debt, if this history 
is read with candor, and viewed in a right manner, as it 
will show his misfortunes to have originated, first, m the 
fire, which left him a large sum in debt ; next, in being 
t^bliged to build J almost e%-ery year, so far from commoa 



It; INTRODUCTIOISI. 

privileges ; and, ihen, in the two freshets, which caused 
him a lieavy loss of" property. Taking all these things 
into consideration it may be wondered how he succeeded 
in getting along as well as he did, under so many losses 
and dissppointments. But, saith the poet — 

"Pigmies placed on Alps, are pigmies still; 
And Pyramids are Pyramids in vales." 

And, as the Scripture saith of men of ancient times — 

"There were Giants in those days." 



HISTORY 

OF THE 

WHITE MOUNTAINS. 



CHAPTER L 

THE ROSEBROOKS. 

Hannah Hanes was born in Brimfield, Mass., 
August 3rd, 1744; and, at an early age, she 
experienced Religion — at the age of seventeen, 
1 think she told me ; and this religion supported 
her through many trying scenes of life ; neither 
did it forsake her in the time of death. 

Eleazer Rosebrook was born in Grafton, Mass. 
1747 ; was married to Hannah Hanes, in March, 
1772, and there they lived, until after the birth 
of their first child, a daughter : and (when this 
child was one year and a half old,) he, like 
many other enterprizing men, took his wife and 
child and came into what was then called Upper 
Coos (pronounced Quos) as far as Lancaster. 
Here they made a temporary stay, while he 
could look about and find a place to settle, until 
after the birth of their second child, a daughter. 
1* 



O HISTORy OF TUK 

They then moved into woods, up the Connecti- 
cut Kiver, as far as Monadnuc or Monadnock, 
now incorporated Colebrook, nearly thirty miles 
from any inhabitant, and without a road. They 
took the Eiver, in some places, for a guide; 
and, in other places, the}'' followed by marks of 
spotted trees, which were spotted for the purpose 
of shortening the distance , and then went into 
a little log cabin, which had been previously 
prepared by Mr. Rosebrook, my grandfather. 

Now, in the woods, making a beginning, 
setting an example lor others to follow, suffering 
many hardships, and enduring many privations, 
common to beginners in a new country, they did 
the best they could and tried to be content with 
their situation. They had provided themselves 
with a cow, the only favored domestic animal 
they possessed, and, having no pasture, nor fence, 
she was at liberty to range about and go wherever 
she pleased. Many times did Mrs. Rosebrook, 
my grandmother, in the absence of her husband, 
shut her dear child up in her cabin, and taking 
her infant in her arms, proceeded into the woods 
in search of her cow, Avhich she would be 
directed to find by the sound of her bell. 
Sometimes she was under the necessity of wad- 
ing the river to get where the animal was, and 
then she would return home and find the 
deserted child safe, and, with the infant still in 
her arms, and followed by the other child, did 
she milk her cow. What courage must this 
woman have possessed, after being for many 
years among near relatives, such as parents 
brothers, sisters and a numerous circle of friends 



WHITE MOUNTAINS. 7 

and neighbors, who were near and dear to her, 
and changing them for the woods ! What a 
contrast between having a large society and now 
being confined entirely to these her lisping child- 
ren ! What woman in these days could do this 
and not complain of its being hard or severe ? 
But she had made up her mind to be content 
and industrious in whatsoever situation she 
should be placed, and having a monitor w^ithin, 
which would say to her that although separated 
from earthly friends, yet she had one that would 
" stick closer than a brother," and while filled 
with these thoughts, her fears of wild beasts, 
and many other things, would flee from her. 

Their living was principally upon animal food; 
as God always provides suitably for every one 
who depends upon him and will apply himself 
industriously to obtain. 

The woods were beautiful, and well stored 
with game, such as Moose, Deer, Bears, &c., 
and hunters might, in a short time, kill and 
procure a sufficient quantity of this kind of food 
to supply their families a long time. Some of 
the flesh they would dry, and some they v/ould 
smoke ; and, in various ways, did they preserve 
it and make good wholesome food of it. 

One grand article wanted now was salt, 
which was scarce and hard to be got, and they 
could not well live without it, in this fresh and 
mountainous country. Some families suffered 
considerably, by their children having their 
necks swollen — the disorder w^as attributed to 
the want of salt, which was afterwards rem- 
edied, in a measure, by, carrying them to the 



9 HISTORY OP THB 

salt water, and giving tliem a plenty oF salt fish 
to eat, and applying the skin of the salt fish to 
their necks ; but they never wholly out grew 
this trouble. I have heard my grandfather say, 
that while living in the Monadnuc, at one time 
he went on foot to Haverhill, and bought one 
bushel of salt, and carried it home, through the 
woods, on his back, a distance, at that time, as 
they followed the river the most of the way, of 
not less than eighty miles. Can this same 
country produce a man now, with such wonder- 
ful power of muscle and strength of mind, to 
endure this and not complain of its being hard ? 
But such was the courage of these hardy new 
beginners that they did not mind trifles. One 
circumstance I think worth recording. 

One Major Whitcomb, who lived in this 
country, went on foot to what was then called 
Lower Ccos, a distance of fifty miles from 
Avhere he lived, and it was late in the spring; 
as the people had planted, in that place, he had 
great difliculty in finding potatoes, which it was 
his whole business to obtain ; but he at length 
succeeded in getting one bushel of small ones, 
and these he carefully carried home, on his 
back. Those v/hich would answer to cut, he 
cut in pieces, and then planted them. After- 
wards he counted the hills, and there were four 
hundred hills of these planted potatoes ; and, 
in the fall he harvested them, and had one 
hundred bushels of good potatoes. Such was 
the plentiful increase of almost every thing 
put into the ground. So much so, that this 
country wa? considered by people, two or three 



WHITE MOUNTAINS, ^ 

liundred miles distant, to be equal to the western 
country now ; and those who left their friends 
to come to this, (Upper Coos, as they then 
termed it,) were, generally, a robust and self- 
denying people; and the friends whom they left 
behind thought much more of the distance, than 
we do now of going two or three thousand 
miles; and their expectations of seeing them 
again, were much less than now ; which may 
well be imagined, when we reflect that it is 
more practicable to travel ten miles now, than it 
was to travel one then. 

About this time w^as the Eevolutionary War 
between the United States and Great Britain. 
Grandfather volunteered his services ; as he 
possessed the same independent spirit of our 
forefathers, and was determined, as they were, to 
free our country or shed his own blood in its 
defence. Before he started, fearing for the 
safety of his family, should he leave them alone, 
lest they might be destroyed by the enemy, he 
removed them down to Northumberland, and 
placed them in a sort of fort, which was then 
erected and guarded by the husbandmen ; they 
then embraced each other, and he took his leave 
of his family, having a Arm belief that if he 
had entered rightly into a good cause, he should 
be prospered, and impressed with these feelings, 
they separated, while his wife's prayers were 
constantly for him and the general good of the 
country. But here, in this situation, she did 
not remain long, having then tlie addition of 
another child — a son. A gentleman, by the 
name of White, kindly gave her an Asylum in 



10 HISTORY OF THE 

his house. As his wife was sickly, and not able 
to work, he gave her and her three children 
their board for what they could do ; which she 
considered a great kindness, as it gave her the 
privilege of supporting herself and family with- 
out being chargeable to her husband. 

Mrs. Kosebrook remained where she was, on 
permission, until her husband came home. He 
then moved his family to Guildhall, Vermont, 
and having settled them there, returned to his 
duty for a number of months, discharging it 
with bravery, and encountering with his foes, 
whenever he was called upon, like a brave 
soldier. 

He and an officer were once sent to Canada 
as spies. They were suspected, and finding it 
out, they made good their retreat; they were 
closely pursued by the enemy. Grandfather 
was aware of it, and they travelled, night as 
well as day, until they came to a considerable 
stream of water; here they built a fire, and then 
put it out, to make it appear as though they had 
been gone for some time ; they then waded the 
stream, and, when at a proper distance, struck 
up another fire and dried and rested themselves. 
The enemy came soon after, and found where 
they had made the fire, which they had ex- 
tinguished, and, supposing they were out of 
their reach, returned; as one of the pursuing 
party told him, afterwards ; and he likewise 
said, that he told them it was useless to follow 
farther, as Mr. Roscbrook was a Hunter and a 
Woodsman, and knew better than to suffer 
himself to be overtaken. 



WHITB MOUNTAINS, 11 

Grandmother, while living at Guildhall, in 
the absence of her husband, was frequently 
visited by the Indians. As she was a woman, 
and alone, they seemed to make her habitation 
their place of resort, their being no man to resist 
them. By disposing of their fur, they would 
provide themselves with a plenty of what they 
called Uncupy, or spirit, v/hich they carried in 
bladders, taken from Moose, and, at times, they 
would have a great drunk. This troubled her 
much, knowing their savage dispositions ; she, 
fearing she would offend them and incur their 
displeasure, bore with them ; at one time, how- 
ever, she became decided and cleared her house 
of them, all but one, and she was so far gone 
under the influence of the spirit, or liquor, that 
she lay motionless upon the floor ; grandmother 
took her by the hair of her head, and with the 
strength of her feelings, dragged her out of 
doors ; and the squaw by being put in motion, 
came to herself so much that she had the use of 
her limbs ; she drew her tomahawk and aimed 
it at grandmother, who had just closed the door 
after her, when this tomahawk came so near as 
to take off* the wooden thumb-piece from the 
door handle ; thus she Providentially made her 
escape. Some time in the night, the squaw so 
far recovered as to move herself out of sight of 
the house ; and, the next day, after getting 
sober, and recollecting how ridiculously she had 
appeared, and what trouble she had caused the 
good woman, the evening before, came back and 
freely asked her forgiveness, and likewise said 
she would not do the like again ; and she strictly 
kept her word. 



1^ HISTORY OF THE 

Grandfather came home again, on permission, 
and as his wife had so much trouble with the 
natives, and her family being again increased, 
she did not well know how to have him return; 
and as he had enlisted during the war, he hired 
a man to take his place, and remained at home 
to assist his helpmate in bringing up her young 
family. As they had begun to fulfil the com- 
mandment which was given to Adam, at the 
beginning, it becam.e necessary she should hare 
help ; and as a reward for his toils and hard- 
ships during his services, he was paid off in the 
old Continental money, which proved a nuisance 
to him. I have now some of it still in my pos- 
session, which I keep in remembrance of his 
courage and valor. 

Peace was proclaimed, and they remained in 
Guildhall, and the people were, for a number of 
miles, seemingly, all of one family, sharing in 
each other's bounties and enjoying one another's 
company, like so many brothers , and if one 
happened to get a dainty, or a rare nice thing, 
an invitation would immediately be given to the 
neighbors, who would assemble, and they all 
would have a social time of it. There was no 
distinction in those days in point of dress or 
grandeur, but all wore their own manufacture ; 
I have heard my grandmother say that when 
she was dressed in her striped, short, loose 
gown, and her clean starched and well ironed, 
blue and white checkered linen apron, she felt 
much better then to appear in a meeting, among 
Christians, than she has, since, when dressed in 
silks. They then, had no ruffles, no ribbons, or 



WHITE MOUNTAINS. 13 

any thing that appeared like ostentation, but all 
Was neat and tidy; as this was the uniform 
manner of dress, in those days, they all enjoyed 
it, without a murmur, and felt happy. The 
men wore garments made of the skin of Moose, 
which they had learned to dress of the Indians ; 
they were, as ihey said, cold things to put on in 
the morning, but when once warmed, the cold 
weather could not penetrate through, and they 
would last a long time. For shoes, they made 
of this same kind of skin, a substitute called 
Moccasons, until the country began to be opened 
a little, and then they got sheep ; the wool, the 
women would card themselves and spin ; and 
such were their habits of industry^, as this was 
a slow way to get their wool worked up, I have 
heard grandmother say that she used frequently 
to work a whole week, both night and day, 
without undressing herself — she would only lay 
down, for a short time, with her clothes on, 
while carding and spinning; when this was 
done, she would weave it, and then with the 
bark of some forest tree they would give it a 
color ; w^ithout the process of a Clothier, or the 
workmanship of a Tailor, they would cut their 
own garments and make them — and in this 
cheap, humble, but happy way, these people 
lived for many years, until the enemy of con- 
tentment began to introduce articles of merchan- 
dize, v/hich soon created pride, and a sort of 
rivalship commenced, and as soon as one came 
in possession of a newly inported dress, it stim- 
ulated others to follow the fashion, and one 
extreme generally follows another. In this wa^'' 
has our country since been infested with this 



14 HISTORY OP THB 

foolish pride of dress, making gay the outside ; 
while some, it is feared, have neglected the mosL 
important part, the soul ; hut another era, it is 
hoped, will take place, which will yet cause all 
who watch for it, to be more and more happy. 

Now while living at that time in this country, 
the greatest disadvantage which they felt, most 
seriously, was the want of good schools for 
their children. As they seldom had any schools 
so near as to have the privilege of sending them 
at all, their eldest went but one day, their sec- 
ond, one week — which completed their school 
education. But as their mother had in early 
life acquired a knowledge of letters, and the 
proper use of them, she instructed them so well 
that they could read and spell with considerable 
accuracy. This they found to be useful in after 
years, as they could read for themselves and 
sometimes for others. For instance ; the hus- 
band of the eldest became afflcited with weak- 
ness of his eyes, so that he could not himself 
see to read, and being drawn up with the rheu- 
matism so much that he could not walk, it has 
been a matter of great consolation to him, in his 
dull hours, to sit still and hear her read : and 
thus time passed more swiftly away than it 
Would have done otherwise. I have often heard 
my grandmother tell with great interest the pro- 
ceedings of former years. One instance, I rec- 
ollect, was this ; that at one time when the 
State Legislature met, a man of rather ordinary 
appearance presented himself The members 
viewed him and then asked him if he was the 
choice ol the people ? His answer was thi-s : 



WHITE MOUNTAINS. 



15 



Sirs, I am the only man in my town ; of course 
there was no one to set up against me ; there- 
fore I considered it my privilege to come here, 
and I have made my appearance. This caused 
some glee, but the honest man was not refused 
a seat. At another time, as the military laws 
were in those days similar to ours, a neighbor- 
ing town legally warned a meeting for the pur- 
pose of choosing military officers and to have a 
training. After the officers were chosen there 
was but one remaining soldier : and he looking 
wishfully upon his superiors, said : Gentlemen, 
I have one request to make, that is, as I am the 
only soldier, I hope your honors will not be too 
severe in drilling me. but will spare me a little 
as I may be needed another time. He could 
form a solid column, he said, but it racked him 
shockingly to display. At another time, when 
they were to have a training, an officer went 
fifty miles to Lower Coos, as it was then called, 
or Haverhill, now — for two quarts of spirit, to 
treat his company with. As they had no car- 
riages in those days, neither had they a road 
suitable for one, he took his horse, put on a sad- 
dle and then a pair of large saddle-bags, filled 
with provisions for the journey, and a jug for 
the spirit, and provender for his horse, and as 
they travelled at that time, it took him three or 
four days to perform this journey. When on 
his way home, by some unknown accident, the 
cork got loose and the bottle was emptied of its 
contents into the saddle-bags. The liquor would 
have been saved had not the oats soaked up a 
part of it ; he, however, saved enough to treat 



16 HISTORY OF TUB 

his company with. They did not require bo 
much then as too many have required since that 
time. 

It had been a matter of considerable enquiry, 
how they should get a passage through the 
White Mountains ? Two men, who went in 
search, by name Timothy Nash and Benjamin 
Sawyer, discovered an opening through the 
Notch. One of then climbed a tree to be sure 
of the fact. Here one of ihem lost a mitten, 
3t being on a high hilt, and from that circum- 
stance they gave it the name of the Mitten 
Mountain. When satisfied there might be a 
way found here to get to the fertile country on 
the Connecticut Eiver, without going so far 
i'ound, they gave the information, and were re- 
warded by having the whole tract of level land 
given them above the Notch, and it was granted 
to them by Governor Wentworth in 1773, as 
Nash and Sawyers' Location, upon condition 
that they should cut and make a good road 
through this Tract of Land, and rause five 
families to settle on it in five years. This land 
was surveyed by General Buckman, a Deputy 
Surveyor of public land, then belonging to the 
Province, now State of New Hampshire ; and 
they had got some families settled here, and the 
people had began to settle in Conway and 
Bartlett, and likewise in Jefferson, all of whom 
had an example set them by Colonel Whipple, 
from Portsmouth, who, for years, vv^as a real 
Father to them. He placed them on his land, 
and all they could raise, more than they needed 
for their families, he bought; and paid them 



WHITB MOUNTAINt. 17 

honestly to even a half a cent. He used to 
bring from Portsmouth a bag of half cents to 
make change, for the purpose of being honest 
himself and trying to make his tenants honest. 
This little surplus of grain was carefully laid up 
for the inhabitants in case of their own need, or 
that of other persons who should move in. 

At one time, provisions in Bartlett were 
scarce, and some of the people took their sacks 
and money in their hands, and came through 
the woods, a distance of not less than thirty 
miles, to buy bread. This was refused by the 
Colonel, saying his own inhabitants wanted all 
he had ; and they were obliged to return empty. 
They, however, had the precaution to examine 
and find where the grain was, and shortly after- 
wards returned, and with an auger, bored a hole 
up through the floor under where the grain was, 
secured by a lock, held their sacks under, and 
they were filled. When satisfied they stopped 
the hole with a plug, and then, on their backs, 
carried the filled sacks to the woods, where they 
had handsleighs prepared to draw the grain on 
with, and thus returned in safety. The Colonel 
finding it out, and being sensible of his error, 
made but little fuss about it, yet took care how 
he dealt with them afterwards. 

The inhabitants now while clearing the tim- 
ber oflf their lands, made ashes, which was 
boiled into salts, and exchanged for goods. 
Every thing was very dear. As the distance 
was so great to go round to get to the sea-board, 
they began to contrive means to go to Portland, 
or, perhaps, Portsmouth was the first place 



18 IIISTOKY OF THE 

where they went to market. With one horse 
fixed to a car, they first went through the woods. 
T-ie form of the car was simply this : two poles 
cat ten or fifteen feet in length, the smaller end? 
sei ring as th'lls .or the horse to draw by and 
the largest :nd • dra gg^' ig on the ground; and 
nearly in the [middle fastened with some short 
pole", on which they would place a bag, or other 
articles of loading. In this way the}^ got along 
quite well until they came to the Notch. This 
was a trying place to get through. To go 
where they now do, was then utterly impossile. 
They then turned out at the top of the Notch 
and went over the edge and so managed to get 
to the top, and by taking a zizzag course, as 
much as possible, got down : but in doing this 
there was danger of the horse tipping over — the 
hill was so steep. And when they returned, 
they would tie a rope around the horse's neck, 
to keep him from tailing backwards. At one 
time, however, one horse did so fall ; but he 
was helped up without receiving much injury. 
At length a committee was chosen to search and 
look out the best road. They agreed in all 
places until they came to the Notch. There 
they held a council. One-half was for making 
the road on one side of the stream, and the 
other half, on the other side ; but after consid- 
erable consultation on the subject, one of them, 
turned and voted to make the load on the side 
of the Saco, where it is now. Reader, when 
you pass this place, now spoken of, please to 
look and judge for yourself, if you would devise 
^i way to make a road on the other side of the 



WHITE MOUNTAINS. 19 

Stream, and then imagine what courage and 
perseverance our forefathers possessed. They 
never seemed to take hold of the plough and 
look back, but drove on. 

At this time, grandfather remained at Guild- 
hall. He had settled on a beautiful piece of 
land, easy to cultivate, on the Connecticut river, 
and things began to look flourishingly. He 
seemed to be in a way to live without much 
hard labor himself, as his two eldest daughters 
were married, and his four sons growing up to 
help him. But in this easy situation he could 
not long remain. Having an ambitious, enter- 
prising, public spirited disposition, and after 
going to market in the manner spoken of, and 
knowing there must be more help and persever- 
ance to make this way practicable, he left his 
situation and volunteered once more to serve the 
public. In January, 1792, he took his family 
and moved them to Nash & Sawyer's Location, 
bought out my father, who had sDme time before 
bought out three or four settlers who had declin- 
ed to remain, and had been living there alone, 
keeping bachellor's hall, in one of the small huts 
they had built. 

Soon after this, my father rather than to be 
crowded by neighbors, moved twelve miles down 
the Saco river, where he would have elbow room 
enough ; and then began in the woods, in what 
is called Hart's Location, and remains there un- 
til this day, making as much improvement as 
possible, and laboring for the public good — 
while grandfather was beginning again in the 
woods, yea, more than the woods, in the valley 



20 HIS5T0RY or THE 

of the Amanoosuc, surrounded by mountains, 
on all sides. He afterwards sold his farm at 
Guildhall, and the effects or proceeds he laid out 
in this lonesome spot, far from any neighbors, 
twelve miles either way. In a little log cabin 
they lived many years — suffering all the hard- 
ships, which might well be expected or borne 
in this lonely, uncultivated place ; and as they 
were dependent on their neighbors for food, they 
were obliged to go, or send their children that 
distance to obtain it : always feeling anxious for 
their safety when they were gone, fearing less 
some accident might befall them. The way was 
so rough they were fearful the horse would 
break his leg and injure the child. Many an 
hour, I have heard my grandmother say, she has 
spent in meditation of her absent children ; and 
at a late hour in the night, many times, before 
they would return ; and then she would pour out 
her love in prayer and thankfulness to her heav- 
enly Father for preserving them, and that she 
was permitted to receive them again to her hum- 
ble mansion. 

Thus they lived several years, working on 
their farms and making roads ; sometimes for 
pay and sometimes without pay, just as it hap- 
pened, until the Legislature saw fit to grant 
them a Turnpike, 1803. This was divided into 
shares to the number of five hundred, and let 
out to different men to make. After a while, as 
travelleing and business increased, he built a 
large and convenient two-story dwelling, on an 
elevated spot, on the west end of what has since 
been called Giant"*? Grave, with two room? un- 



WHITE MOUNTAINS. 21 

der ground ; from the chamber over this, in the 
second story, was an out side door, which 
opened so that one could walk out on this hill, 
which was beautiful, and gives a view of all the 
flat country around it. He built a large barn, 
stable, sheds and other out buildings — a sawmill 
and grist mill, &c.; the latter was of but little 
use, being one and a half miles from where he 
lived. The mice injured the bolt so much it 
was difficult to keep it in repair ; but the saw 
mill was of great service, both to him and to 
my father, when building. Thus he prospered 
and lived well ; but his children were not satis- 
fied with their situation ; married, and left him, 
one after another ; and their leaving him and 
setling them off, put him in rather low circum- 
stances, in his advanced age ; still, he had 
sufficient, but was in want of some one to help 
him, as will be shown in the next chapter. 



CHAPTER II. 

THE CRAWFORDS. 

Ethan Allen Crawford was born in Guild- 
hall, Vermont, in 1792, and when quite young, 
his parents moved to Hart's Location, in New 
Hampshire, twelve miles from neighbors, one 
is way, and six the other ; in a log house, in a 
small opening among the trees. 

Here our family lived alone, with the excep- 
tion of a hired man ; when, one Saturday, my 
parents went to spend the Sabbath in Bartlctt, 
among the Christians ; and they left me and a 
brother older than I was, with this hired man, to 
take care of us, and with a plenty of provisions 
to last until their return. Soon after they were 
gone, this man picked up such things as he 
thought valuable, and what victules were cooked 
for us during their absence, steered for the 
woods, and left us, two little boys, (to use the 
words of Ethan,) with none to keep us company 
all night, and without food. We had a cow, but 
neither of us was large enough to milk her. 
We, however, got some potatoes, roasted them 
in the ashes and ate them ; then, being tired and 
lonesome, we hugged ourselves up together and 
went to sleep. On Monday, when they came 
and found us, and things as they were, my 
father was so incensed with the man for his ill 
treatment to his little helpless children, that ho 



WHITE MOUNTAINS. S^ 

followed him to Franconia, where he came out 
of the woods. We recovered some of the 
stolen articles, and had the man punished for his 
perfidy. 

While my father was clearing up his land, I 
and my brother helped him all we could. Many 
times I have chopped, and my hands would 
swell and pain me in the night so much, that my 
mother would get up and poultice them, to give 
me ease. I never had a hat, a mitten, or a pair 
of shoes, of my own, that were made for me, 
until I was nearly thirteen years old. I could 
harness and unharness horses, in the cold winter 
weather, with my head, hands and feet nearly 
bare, and not mind or complain of the cold, as 
I was used to it ; it made me tough and healthy. 

After this, I was sent to school, in the winter, 
to some one of the neighboring towns, wherever 
I could work night and moi'ning, and help pay 
my board, until I could read, write and cipher. 

In 1811, I enlisted as a soldier, under tho 
command of Capt. Stark, for eighteen months ; 
with a promise, from another officer, that I 
should have a commission, after we should get 
to Plattsburgh. Here I stayed through the sum- 
mer ; and late in the fall, the spotted fever raged 
in the company, and I was one of the subjects 
of this contagious disease. I was sick, and did 
not know but that it was even unto death, as 
numbers were dying daily around me. I was 
carried to the hospital ; but as it was so filled 
with the sick, I thought I would fare better in 
my own bunk, and got back there some how or 
other. Here I made the best I could of it, and 



24 HISTORY or THE 

having a strong constitution, as soon as my fever 
turned, I crawled out and bought me a turkey 
and had a part of it made into broth, of which I 
took a Httle at a time until it strengthened me, 
and I could get about. 

Thinking that if I staid there, I would not live 
long, I made an application for a furlow, to go 
homiO, which was granted me. I started, but 
was so weak and emaciated, I could walk but a 
short distance in a day, and when the wind blew 
I was obliged to stop and lay by, as I could not 
stand against it. I, however, succeeded in get- 
ting home to the White Hills in fourteen days, 
with the assistance of some kind friends, who 
would occasionally give me a ride. Once on 
the way I was suspected of having run away 
from the army and 1 was obliged to show my 
furlow. 

In the winter, after regaining my health, I re- 
turned to my duty. I afterwards had to take the 
place of a Lieutenant, a Sergant and a Corporal 
and as I was called upon oftener than many 
others on duty, one day when I was gone they 
chose their officers, and I was left out. This 
dissatisfied me so much I made my complaints 
to the man that had promised to raise me above 
a common soldier. He wrote to Washington, 
to head quarters, and we soon had an answer 
saying I might be discharged. This I showed 
to*^the officer that had the authority to give the 
discharge. He was unwilling ; but after he had 
done it, he gave me a Corporal's commission, 
which I accepted, and I stayed for a while. The 
mam army moved off, and 1 was left with a 



WHITE MOUNTAINS. 25 

company of invalids, and not much to do ; I 
thought best to go home, and so I went home. 

In 1814, I hired with two men who had 
engaged to take out the trees by the roots, and 
prepare for a road, sixteen feet wide, leading 
from Russell, in the State of New York to St. 
Johns, for fifty cents a rod. We made a begin- 
ning soon after the frost was out of the ground ; 
took our provisions and cooking utensils with us, 
and there, in those woods, I staid seven months 
without once coming out. Three men of us, in 
that time, with one yoke of oxen, grubbed and 
made a road nearly eight miles long, and then I 
went home. 

In the spring of 1815, as my eldest brother 
was then in Russell, in the State of New York, 
and I having been there, and liking the place, I 
concluded to go again. I bought me a horse, 
and I did go. The eighth and ninth of June, 
the ground froze and the snow fell a foot deep, 
or more, and lasted for me to draw logs to a 
saw-mill, two days, with four oxen. 

Here the pigeons were so numerous, in some 
places, that the farmers were obliged to watch 
their fields to keep the birds from picking up the 
sowed grain. At one time I went with three 
other men into the woods, on to a swell or small 
ridge of land, where the pigeons had made their 
nests and hatched their young ones, and on half 
an acre of land, in some beech trees, we found 
them in great abundance. We would chop one 
tree and fall it against another and that would 
cause the young ones to drop from both trees. 
Some trees had forty nests in each of them, with 
3 



^ HISTORT OF THB 

two young ones in each nest. These were a 
clear squad of tat, and as they could only hujj 
along and could not get out of our way, we 
picked them up and pulled off their heads and 
took out their crops to keep them from spoiling. 
There we worked until each of us had as many 
as we could carry, in a bag, home on a horse's 
back ; and a greater sight than that I never saw. 

Among the numerous branches of business 
which the man I hired with had for me to do, 
was v/orking on a river of swift water, where 
we boated barrels of potash fifteen miles down 
the river. These barrels weighed five hundred 
apiece. I could take one of these at a time, of 
this average weight, and put it into the boat, 
hoisting it two feet. There was but another 
man in the boat that could lift but one end of a 
barrel. My strength was so great, and my 
health so good, I did not know but it would last, 
until I began to have the rheumatism, by being 
so often and so much exposed, and in the heat 
of the day and when in a state of perspiration, 
obliged to go into the water, and remain there 
as we often times had to do. 

Here I lived, and had bought me a piece of 
land in the town of Louisville, in the State of 
New York, and I had made a handsome begin- 
ning, intending to settle there, near this brother 
of mine ; when, in 1816, we received a letter 
from our aged grandfather, desiring one of us 
lo come and live with him ; as he said he would 
not live long, being troubled with a cancer on 
his under lip ; that his children were all married 
and settled away from him, such a3 were capa- 



WaiTS MOUNTAINS^ ST 

])\e of taking care of their harvests, and that 
one of us should have a deed of ail his property, 
if one of us would come and see him, grand- 
mother and imcle William, their eldest son, 
(who was not capable of managing his business 
through life,) and pay his grandfather's honest 
debts. 

My brother, who was always considered the 
wiser of us two, said he would not do this, and 
advised me not to ; setting forth the many diffi- 
culties that would arise on the part of near 
relatives, who, though not willing to go there 
themselves, yet might find fault with another's 
going; and tlie great responsibility resting upon 
the one who should undertake the care of old 
people. Although he honored and respected 
them, yet he felt inadequate to the task, and 
thought it devolved upon some one better quali- 
fie<l for it. This council I heard and concluded 
to abide by. 

Unfortunately, I got l?,me and could not work; 
I therefore thought I v/ould go home, and visit 
them and my parents, v/ho lived twelve miles 
distant from them ; and, in December, I started. 
On my arriving there, the old gentleman ex- 
pressed marks of gratitude for my obedience to 
his summons, but as 1 had made up my mind 
according to my brother's advice, I told him 1 
had not come to stay, only to see him. On 
hearing this he put his hand upon my shoulder, 
and intreated me in such a manner, with tears 
trickling <lown his furrowed cheeks, that my 
former rosolntiou wns shaken ; for he liad ever 
been a kind grandparent lo me, and liow could 



28 HISTORY OF THE 

I deny him my services now when he so much 
needed them ? 

I then concluded to go back to Louisville and 
sell my possessions there, and return to their 
assistance, and do the best I could for them. 
Accordingly I went back, and sold; [and in 
March, 1817, returned to them again. I brought 
with me two hundred and eighty dollars which I 
had earned. This I contributed to the benefit of 
the farm. Then I gave my notes for a sum of 
from two to three thousand dollars, and took 
up his. Afterwards he gave me a deed for his 
farm, by me giving them a mortgage back, for 
their maintainance through life. I provided every 
means which he and his friends thought proper, 
to remove the disease, but to no purpose, it was 
so far advanced it was incurable. 

It was now necessary to have a nurse — one 
who would feel an interest in his being made 
comfortable ; as the disorder so much affected 
grandmother, she could not dress it, neither 
could she bear to stay in the room when it was 
dressed. And they desired me to go for a 
cousin of mine, by the name of Lucy, who was 
a [particular favorite of their's, and get her to 
come and take care of him. I went and obtain- 
ed her consent, with that of her parents, who 
well knew his situation, and felt anxious that his 
last days might be made as comfortable and 
easy as possible. 

The 5th of May, Lucy came home with me 
and took the whole care of grandfather ; and he 
was so well pleased with what she did for him, 
that he thought no one else could do for him as 



WHlTJi MOUWTAiaS. »» 

well ; mid would never let his own children, dress 
his lip when she was there. His pains, which 
were severe, he bore like a christian, v^^ithout a 
murmur or a groan, when awake, and he would 
frequently say he had no more laid upon him 
than he was able to bear. He would converse 
upon death, with as much freedom, as though he 
was going to take a long journey, into a far 
country, and never expected to return. 

He gave Lucy and myself a great many 
councils, and expressed a desire, in the course 
of the summer, that as Lucy took such good 
care of him, he hoped she would unite with me, 
and continue there to stay; and, in the hke man- 
ner, rock the cradle for the declining years of 
grandmother, as she did for him ; and likewise 
for uncle William, who, he said, might cause 
some trouble, as most people in his situation, 
possess a quick disposition, and would sometimes 
he irritable. He told us not to mind such things 
but to discharge a clear conscience towards him, 
and we should have a reward for it, and if no 
other, we should have a peace of mind, which 
would surpass every thing in this world. 

He would often say to Lucy when his can- 
cer increased so much as to become an inhabit- 
ed corruption, that he was only a glass for others 
to look into and see their own final corruption at 
death. He would never suffer any one to sit 
up with him, or even go into his room in the 
night to ask if he wanted any thing — always 
seeming to be afraid we should do so much for 
him that we should get sick. In this way he 
lived from Mav unt if September upon nothing 
3* 



so HISTORY OF THE 

but sweetened milk and water, with sometimes a 
little spirit in it, which he said he could not well 
do without, as the cancer in his mouth and 
and throat was so offensive to him. When his 
flesh was all gone, and his teeth fell into his 
mouth, his spirit left his body, without a struggle 
or a groan, with his hands and eyes uplifted to- 
wards heaven ; he, by signs, commended uncle 
William and grandmother to my care. Our 
good neighbors, who lived at a distance of twelve 
and twenty miles, assembled and paid their re- 
spects to his remains, on the 27th. 

As Lucy had with so much judgment, alacrity 
and perseverance discharged her duty towards 
grandfather, and knowing no other that would 
fill her place, I solicited her to engage with me 
in the performance of the remaining obligations 
1 was then under. She accordingly agreed to, 
after I should have obtained the consent of her 
parents, and on the first of November, we were 
married. She now became a partaker of all 
my joys and sorrows. 

This winter (1818) being in good health, my- 
self, and possessing a goodly share of strength, 
I, with the help of uncle William, managed to 
do all our own work, without having any other 
help, as we wished to economise all we could 
to meet my notes and take them up when they 
should become due. In this way our honesi 
endeavors were prospered; and I was able to 
make my first payment without trouble, and 
after getting through whh my Spring work, in 
the Summer I hired men and went 1o labor on 
the turnpike, for pay, bying up everything wc 



WHITE MOUNTAIPhSv 81 

could earn and save from our common, neces- 
sary living, for that purpose, as I was determined 
to pay every demand as soon as it should be 
called for. 



CHAPTER 111. 

Early on the morning of tlie I81I1 of July, 
my family not being well, I went to our nearest 
neighbors for some assistance. It was nearly 
eight o'clock when I returned with Mrs. Rose- 
brook, and not long after, we had a son born, 
which weighed nearly five pounds. After doing 
what was necessaiy to be done, at the house, at 
1 1 o'clock I went to carry some dinner to our 
men who were at work on the Cherry Mountain 
road, one and a half miles from home. Grand- 
mother desired me, on my return, to bring her 
some trout, as she said 1 must give them a good 
treat and do something extra for their services 
and my good fortune that morning. I accord- 
ingly, though reluctantly, obeyed her commands. 
The trout were in as great haste for the hook as 
[ was for them. I caught in a few minutes, a 
fine string of good large sized ones. I was gone 
about one hour from home, and when on my 
return, the first sight which caught my eyes, as 
I came out of the woods, was flames of fire 
ascending the tops of the chimnies, ten or fifteen 
feet in the air ! I added a new speed to my 
horse, who was then under a good headway, and 
1 was soon there. Here I found Lucy and her 
infant, placed on some feather beds, behind an 
old blacksmith's shop, where she could not see 
J be flamofis of Hre, in (he open air. I passed h«r 



WHITE MOUNTAINS. «0 

iiiixiicdiately by and flew to the house, and tried 
to save something from it, but all in vain. The 
fire was raging ; and to that height I could not 
save a hive of bees, which stood a few rods from 
it. These were suffered to perish. There 
were no men there excepting a Mr. Boardman, 
from Lancester, who, with his wife, on their 
return home from Saeo, called for some refresh- 
ments, and while this was preparing, Mrs. Board- 
man came into the room and enquired of Lucy 
how she did, and what she should say to her 
mother who lived three miles from them, when 
she should get home. After a little conversa- 
tion and receiving thanks from Lucy for her 
kindness, she took her leave and went out. The 
room where Lucy lay was about ten feet wider 
than the other part of the house, which was 
built with these two rooms under ground. And 
there was a large poplar whose boughs and 
leaves touched the chamber window where grand 
mother slept. While in conversation with Mrs. 
Boardman Lucy saw smoke and leaves pass her 
window ; but as she was much engaged and the 
wind shifted, she forgot to mention it. The girl, 
going mto one of the rooms, heard the crackling 
of fire overhead, and when she opened the 
chamber door, the flames met her. She imme- 
diately closed the door and gave information. 
In a few minutes Mrs. Boardman returned and 
said, Mrs. Crawford do not be frightened, the 
house is on fire and cannot be saved ; be quiet 
and keep still ; you shall be taken care of; re- 
member your life is of more value than all the 
properly which is to be consumed. These 
^vords, coming in so friendly a manner, and 



34 HISTORY OF Taa 

from so good a woman, calmed all iier feai't-, 
aad, when lell alone, she had the presence of 
mmd to command herself without trembling. 
She arose and dressed herself, then went to the 
desk, which stood in the room, unlocked it, took 
out all the papers and other things of conse- 
quence from the drawers, and put them in a 
pine chest, which stood near by ; then asked 
Mr. Boardman to save it, which he did. She 
then went into another room and took out some 
draws, and they were carried out and saved. 
She would have taken down the top of a brass 
clock, had it not been for Mrs. Boardman, who 
would, every time she saw her making exertions, 
admonish her by saying she was not aware of 
her critical situation, and as it hindered her by 
these arguments from doing much herself, Lucy 
gave up and was placed in an arm chair, and 
carried to the place where I found her. The 
infant was the last thing taken from the burning 
ruins, as Mrs. Rosebrook had taken it and laid it 
upon a bench in the bar-room, for the house 
was built for a tavern. ]\fr. B. asked where it 
was ? She said she knew, and ran in and 
brought it out. We had a pig shut up in a pen 
so near the building, that before he could make 
his escape, was burned. The noise of this pig 
attracted the attention of the other hogs and 
brought them to the place, and it was with diffi- 
culty that Lucy and one little brother of hers, 
four years old, who lived with us, could keep 
them from tearing every thing to pieees — beds 
all on fire — cheeses' fdl around — hogs iu the 
midst of them — all hurly burly — while the 



WHITli MOUNTAINS. 35 

female parly had much to do tu keep safe what 
they had taken from the house. And Mr. 
Boardman had his horse and chaise to look 
after. As there was but httle help, there could 
not be much saved. The day was fair, and the 
wind strong, and it blew in difierent directions, 
so that the bed on which Lucy lay caught hre 
three times, which she extinguished by smoth- 
ering it with her hands. 

The fire is supposed to have communicated 
from a candle, accidentally left buring in a 
kitchen chair, in the morning, in a tightly ceiled 
room, by our grandmother ; and it was sometime 
making its appearance, owing to the stillness of 
the air, as that was the place from where it was 
discovered. Lucy having been unwell in the 
night, the old lady was called upon to come and 
see her, and after rendering her services, Lucy 
was better and desired her to go to bed again. 
This, she was, at first, unwilling to do ; but after 
a little pursuading, she went. I gave her a new 
long candle, which she took and set in the chair, 
and then she laid down on the bed, not thinking 
to sleep, as she said ; but she did fall asleep, and 
when she awoke, the sun shone brightly in her 
face, and thinking she had neglected Lucy, and 
unmindful of the candle, left it burning ; coming 
out of the room, she shut the door after her and 
came down stairs. 

Dear Reader, my feelings at this time, may- 
better be imagined than described, — no inhabited 
house within six miles, on one side, and twelve, 
the other — my family in this destitute situa- 
tion — all my carriages sharing the same fate 



36 HISTORY OF THE 

with the buildings, and no means to convey 
them hence. As Mrs. Boardman was a feeble 
woman, and out of health, she could not think 
of giving up her chaise to carry away my family 
with; neither was it a desirable carriage for 
them. And while we were contriving some 
means to get them away, it seemed as though 
directed by the hand of Providence, a Tin 
Peddler happened along, and after we had put 
what things we saved into an old barn which 
stood at such a distance from the other buildings 
that it escaped the fire, he kindly emptied his 
cart of its contents in the field, and we placed 
some feather beds in his cart and put Lucy and 
her brother and the babe in it. I then gave the 
before mentioned trout to Mr. Boardman, helped 
them to their carriage, and they went their way, 
and we went ours. While on the way, the babe 
w^as uneasy, and Mrs. Rosebrook picked rasp- 
berries and gave them to the child, and to its 
mother. Grandmother and Mrs. Rosebrook, on 
horseback, myself and the peddler on foot, made 
up our travelling party, and about the setting of 
the sun, and over a very rough road, we all 
arrived in safety at Mrs. Rosebrook's. The two 
girls we had living with us, staid and slept in the 
barn, and likewise the men, when they returned 
from work. I had laid in a good store of pro- 
visions for my family's use, as we were not 
always sure of a crop, and depended on buying. 
We had a small store pretty well filled with salt 
and salt fish. I had bought forty dollars worth 
of wheat and forty of pork. I had made two- 
thirds of a barrel of maple sugar, and when 



WHITE MOUNTAINS. 37 

done Bugaring, had taken the large potash kettle 
which I had used and brought across the 
Amanoosuc river, I walking over on a log, the 
kettle on my head, uncle William helping me to 
put the kettle on my head ; after putting it in a 
cart I brought it home. These and all other 
kinds of provisions were destroyed. Some new 
cheese, however, was saved : this was in the 
furthermost part of the house, where the fire 
came last. AH my farming tools were destroyed, 
excepting those that the men had working with, 
such as ploughs, harrows, hoes, shovels, rakes, 
pitch forks, scythes, &c. In the morning we 
had enough and to spare ; in the evening, noth- 
ing left but this new cheese, and the milk of the 
cows. 



CHAPTER IV. 

Tlie next day was the Sabbath, and the liorses 
were sent for ; the girls came down and joined 
us. One incident, by the way, I would just re- 
late. The swallows, after losing their nests, 
followed the family ; and the barns of Mr. 
Rosebrook, seemed to be alive with them — they 
were actually partakers of our trouble. 

Monday, my parents and Lucy's came to see 
what was to be done ; and they agreed to move 
a small house, twenty-four feet square, which 
belonged to me, one and a half miles from 
where ovu's stood before it was burnt; and sent 
an invitation to our neighbors, who immediately 
collected, with provisions for themselves and 
oxen, to draw the building. 

My loss by the fire was estimated at $3,000, 
and there was no insurance. I was young and 
ambitious, but this shock of misfortune almost 
overcame me ; and I was for some days quite 
indifferent which way the world went. I at 
length was constrained to arouse my feelings, 
and once more put my shoulder to the wheel. 

My house was placed upon the spot, and left, 
with one outside door, and chimney up as high 
as the chamber floor ; there vvcre no windows 
and there was nothing but a rough, loose floor 
to walk upon. Yet we could not prevail upon 
Lucy to stay any longer than two weeks where 



IVHITK MOUNTAINS. 39 

she was. We tlierefore spread bed ciulhcs for 
a carpet, and huii£^ some up for a petition, to 
keep her from takina" cold ; and, thus situated, 
she was accidentally visited by several gentle- 
men and ladies from Portland. They seemed to 
sympathize with her; and afterwards sent her 
several articles of furniture, I'or the table. 
Lucy, however took cold, which caused her 
some pain and ti'ouble ; and she was obliged to 
go back to Mr. Kosehrook's, and remain there 
three weeks longer. 

I hired two joiners, and went twelve miles for 
lumber, to work with, and while we were thus 
eno-ao-cd. Colonel Binnev, from Boston, with 
two young men, came along, by the way of 
Littleton, to my place. Finding us so destitute 
of every thing, they stayed but a short time, 
and then went down to father's. The yoimg 
men wanted to go on the mounhiin ; they con- 
sulted him, and greed to take him for a guide, 
with a man to carry provisions ;uitl otht'r necf^s- 
sary things. They rode to tiie top of the 
Notch, then sent back their carriage, and pro- 
ceeded to tiie woods. They had much difficulty 
in managing to get through ; they however pro- 
ceeded slowly — sometimes crawling under a 
thicket of trees — sometimes over logs and wij'i- 
falls, until they arrived to \\herc they could 
walk on the top of trees. This may seem to 
some strange, but it is nevertheless true. They 
never reached the summil, but managed to get 
along on some of the hilis. 

As the day -wag. growiiig to a close, il^n' re- 



40 HISTORY OF THE 

turned to the woods, in order to pass the night, 
and erected a sheher for their protection. A 
donee fog arose and during the night it rained. 
In the morning, owing to the darkness, they 
could not tell the best way to proceed ; but took 
the surest way, by following the Amanoosuc 
river, and came to my house. These men wore 
fine and costly garments into the woods; but 
when they returned, their clothes were torn and 
nnich injured, by the brush ; and their hats 
looked as if they had been through a beggar's 
press. They were much exposed all night, 
without fire or food. 

In Se})tember, there came two gentlemen to 
my father's, and engaged him to go with them to 
the top of Mount Washington, where they 
placed an inscription, in Latin, which was en- 
graved on a brass plate, and nailed it on a rock ; 
they likewise filled a bottle and put it in a rock. 
The inscription was as follows, as I had it copied 
and kept carefully at home. (I vouch not for 
the latin or translation being correct ; it is at all 
events, a true copy, as found on the plate ; and 
w^as translated, with the exception of the word 
*' perspire," by a friend, who was afterwards in 
the vicinity.) 

'' Attii/s ibunf, qui ad summa nitunteer''' — 
They will go higher who strive to entre heaven. 
"■Nil reputans, si quid superesset agendmi" — 
Think nothing done while any thing remains to 
be done. " Sic itur ad astra.'^ — We go thus to 
the stars. " Stinere facto per inhostales sylvas 
RiLstribiis pramptis fehcitcr superrtes. {Eheu 



WHlTi; MOUiNTAIXS. 41 

gi( n 77 ti/sadrst vins^itdoyJ) Johaiints Braze}\Ca7i' 
tabrigsensis^ Gear gins Daicson^ Fkiladelphmisis, 
fhic posi(era?if irid Septemhris 3IDCCCXVIIV 
After passing inhospitable woods, and siu'moimt- 
ing abrupt ledges, (how it made us perspire,) 
John Brazcr of" Cambridge, and George Dawson 
of Philadelphia, placed this inscription here on 
the fourth day of the Ides of Septem'ber, 1818. 

We succeeded in having a comfortable, small 
house, for the winter 1819. Wo had now many 
difficulties to encounter, owing t© the limited 
size of our small house ; it being at that time 
the principal, if not the 'only market road then 
travelled by the people, who depended upon 
going to market in the winter with their produce 
irom the upper part of New Hampshire, and 
t3ven west of Vermonl; ; and tlie snow did not 
fall early to make a good sleigh path. When 
it did, our house was filled, and Lucy would 
many times have to make a large bed on the 
floor, for them to lay dow^n upon, with their 
clothes on, and I w^ould build n large fire in a 
large rock or stone chiraney, that w^ould keep 
them warm through the night. It was no un- 
common thing to burn in that fire place a cord 
of wood in twenty-four hours, and sometimes 
more. 

At this time my father thought it best to sell, 
as there w^as a chance, he thought; he being 
holden with me on the notes, I suppose, would 
like to have been liberated from them. He con- 
sulted with grandmother, and gave her and Wil- 
iiam a mort^arre of his farm, at that time worth 
4# 



42 HiSTOUT OF THE 

two of mine, so that there should be no incum- 
brance on my barn. But the man to whom we 
expected to sell, drew back, and we still remain- 
ed, and struggled along as well as we could, 
through the winter. 

In the month of May four young gentlemen 
came on horseback to visit the mountains. I 
gave them the best information I could. They 
set off together, and made the best they coufd 
of their excursion through the forest, but suffer- 
ed considerable inconvenience by the thickness 
of the trees and brush, which would every now 
and then take hold of their clothes, and stop 
them ; they returned well satisfied, notwithstand- 
ing the unfriendly brush. 

As this was the third party which had visited 
the mountains, since I came here to live, we 
thought it best to cut a path through the woods ; 
accordingly my father and I made a foot path 
from the Notch out through the woods, and it 
w^as advertised in the newspapers, and we soon 
began to have a few visitors. As my accom- 
modations were limited, small parties were under 
the necessity of stopping at my father's, eight 
miles from the Notch. 

This summer I succeeded in removing a barn 
from the place where our house had been 
brought by our neighbors, after the fire, and I 
converted the barn into a stable for horses. We 
considered it quite comfortable for the winter, 
and as I had payments to make, I had to work 
economically to be able. 

I spent the winter of 1820 in doing my own 



WHITE MOUNTAINS. 



43 



work and assisting the traveller up and down the 
Notch, and over the mountains towards Lancas- 
ter. As it is a common thing for the wind to 
sweep away the snow through the Notch, open- 
ing and leaving it bare, so the teamsters required 
help to get along, and sometimes they have been 
obliged to leave a part of their loads at the 
Notch House, and I have gone down there and 
taken it and conveyed it to the owners, and on 
my return would bring home grain, and other 
necessary things for our use, as 1 ever calculated 
to manage so as to load both ways, and not lose 
my time or the wear of my horses for nothing. 

In March, as I had a famous dog for catching 
deer, I told Lucy, one pleasant morning, I was 
going out to the Notch with my dog and I hoped 
to bring a deer home, alive, and we would tame 
him. She smiled, and said to me she thought I 
had better give up such an idea as that, for who 
could catch and halter-break a wild animal like 
a deer. Never mind, said I, there is nothing 
like trying. So I took my rope, dog and snow- 
shoes, and commenced my journey. After trav- 
ehng about four miles in the roads, I turned out 
and went into the woods, say half a mile, when 
Watch, my dog, gave an alarm, which told me 
he had found a deer. I went as fast as 1 could 
and told Watch to be careful and not hurt the 
deer. He had found a young buck and stopped 
him ; I went up and Watch took him by the ear, 
and held him, while I tied on my rope, in form 
of a halter, and then began to descend the hill, 
and come into the road. He was rather turbu- 



44 BISTORT OF THi: 

lont, at first, but soon became quite taine anr! 
peaceable, and woud smell of my hands, as 1 
perspired some, as if for salt. 1 brought him 
honif^, and made a place in the stable and put 
liim in, and Lucy's little brother fed him with 
c-abbage and small pieces of cut potatoes. We 
kept him until June, when by accident, the litttle 
boy happened to leave one whole potatoe, which 
got so far into his throat, that I could not remove 
it, and consequently the poor thing died. 

In May, there came a gentleman and lady, and 
put up whh us, for the night ; it began to snow, 
and in the morning, the snow was good twelve 
inches deep ; and they, being in a hurry, were 
desirous to proceed on their journey, but did not 
know how they could get through the snow with 
their wagon. I then brought up my horse sled, 
took off the wheels from their wagon, and placed 
them and the wagon on the sled, and prepared a 
seat for each of us to ride comfortably, attached 
my horse to the sled, and carried them to Beth- 
leham, twelve miles. As we had now got out 
of the snowy region, and they could travel by 
themselves, I assisted in putting their carriage 
together again, for which he gave me a dollar, 
xind we took our leave of each other, and they 
pursued their way and I returned home. 1 went 
one and a half miles down the Amanoosuc river, 
or Ompompanusuck, according to the ancient 
Indian name, and took the frame of an old grist 
mill, which stood there, useless, and which be- 
longed to me, and brought it home, having taken 
}l apart, and made a temporary cheese house; 



WKITB MOUNTAINS, 45 

and we had a diary, and made twelve hundred 
weight of cheese, which I carried to market in 
the fall, and sold for a good price. This ena- 
bled me to make out another payment of 8200. 

This summer there came a considerable large 
party of distinguished characters, such as the 
author of the New Hampshire map, &c. &c., to 
my house, about noon, to ascend the mountains 
and give names to such hills as were unnamed, 
and after a dinner of trout, they set out, taking 
me for a guide and baggage-carrier: we rode to 
the Notch, and there I was loaded equal to a 
pack-horse, with cloaks and necessary articles 
for two nights, with a plenty of what some call 
''Black Betts," or " O be joyful," as it was the 
fashion in those days, to make use of this kind 
of stuff, and especially upon such occasions. 
We travelled on until we reached the camp, about 
three miles from the road, then I struck up a 
fire, cut wood, and prepared our usual supper, 
spread our blankets, brought for that purpose, 
and after some interesting ctories told by the 
party, I believe we all fell asleep. In the morn- 
ing, after breakfast, we started on our intended 
expedition, taking only provisions enough for the 
day, and a sufficient quantity of " O be joyful," 
and set forward and went over several hills, and 
came to a beautiful pond of clear water, distant 
one mile from the apex of the hill. Here we 
made a stop for some time, enjoying the water, 
which was delicious, and then went to the sum- 
mit of Mount Washington. There they gave 
names to several peaks, and then dmnk healths 



46 HISTOFwl OF THB 

to ihem in honor to the great men Avliose names 
they bore, and gave toasts to them ; and after 
they had all got through, they pnt it upon me to 
do the same ; but as this was a new thing to me, 
?md not being prepared, I could only express mv 
feelings by saying I hoped all of us might have 
good success and return to our respective fami- 
lies in safety, and find them in health ; whicli 
was answered by a cheer from all, as they had 
cheered at other times before, when any one had 
drank a toast. The day was fine, and our feel- 
ings seemed to correspond with the beauties of 
the day, and after some hours had swiftly passed 
away in this manner, we concluded to leave this 
grand and magnificent place and return to a 
lower situation on earth. We then left the hill, 
and came down to the before mentioned pond. 
Here we staid a long time partaking of its wa- 
ters, imtil some of us became quite blue, and 
from this circumstance we agreed to give it the 
name of Blue Pond, and at rather a late hour we 
left it and proceeded towards the camp, but did 
not all arrive there until nine o'clock in the eve- 
ning. This water so much troubled one of our 
party, or the elevated situation on which we trav- 
eled, fatigue, or some other cause, had such an 
effect upon him that he could not get along with- 
out my assistance ; and he being a man of two 
hundred weight, caused me to make use of all 
my strength, at times. I however, managed to 
get down at last, and when I did I was so tired, 
I prostrated mysf^lf upon the gound and told them 
I could do no more that ni^h — :hey must look 



WHIT£ MOUNTAINS. 47 

oiU for themselves, for I was tired to the very 
bone. They cut some wood and did the hest 
they could that night, and in the morning, sleep 
had again restored us, so that after taking some 
refreshment, we started for home, where we all 
.arrived in safety, and in good spirits. Here we 
with pleasure recalled the proceedings of the 
previous day, and partaking of another dinner, 
most of them returned to their places of resi- 
dence the same day. 

In September, at one time, there came a 
number of gentlemen up through the Notch and 
sent to me to prepare and furnish them with 
provisions and other necessaries for the expedi- 
tion. I was accordingly fitted out, and when 
ready, n:iy pack weighed eighty pounds. I car- 
ried it to the Notch, on horseback, and when I 
arrived there the sun was setting, and the party 
had taken the path and gone along and left their 
cloaks by the way for me. I piled them on top 
of my load and budged on as fast as possible, 
and when I arrived at the camp it w^as dusk ; 
there was no fire — wood was to be chopped, and 
supper to prepare, and when all this was done, 
I was tired enougKto sleep without being rocked 
in a cradle. 

hi November I went on the hill in front of my 
house, south, and there set up a short line of 
sable traps, twenty three in number, and caught 
twenty-five sable of fine quality, and one black 
cat, or fisher. 

This v/inter (1821) I spent doing my own . 
work and buying salt, and transporting it from 



48 HISTORY OF THE 

Portland to Lancester, and exchanging it with 
the merchants for grain, and other things, for 
my family's use. And as I had been somewhat 
unlucky with my pet deer, last summer I thought 
to try again for another, and in a manner like 
the former one, I prepared and went near the 
same place. I found several — one of which I 
took alive. This was a beautiful young doe 
and she was with young. I now felt quite rich, 
in taking this prize. I suppose my feelings were 
similar to those spoken of by Robinson Crusoe, 
when he succeeded in taking the Lamas on the 
Island. I did not know but that they might in- 
crease, we could built a park and keep them, as 
these animals are easily tamed, and then I 
should have them to show our visitors in the 
summer, when they come ; perhaps I could, now 
and then, spare one for the table, if requested 
])y them, — but alas! this was only imaginary, 
hke the fable of the maid and her milk-pail. I 
put on my rope in the same manner as I did the 
former one and began to try to lead her, but I 
could do nothing with her ; she would not walk 
with me, so I shouldered her and brought her 
into the road : this made quite a load for me to 
travel with, as I was then four miles from home, 
but said I to myself, without some pain there 
will be no gain ; so I made the best I could of it, 
and when in the road would often set her down 
and try to lead her, but I could not. This was 
not exactly like the one I had taken the preced- 
ing year — it was of a dark brown color. And 
after I had got her home, (1 had either hurt her 



■u^^ITB MOUNTAINS. 49 

in bringing her liome, or she was so delicate she 
would not partake of food, and to put her out of 
misery,) I concluded we had better dress her. 
This was as fine a piece of venison as I had 
ever seen. Now as I had not saved this one's 
life, I said I would go again ; and I went and 
my dog started a good sized buck, and followed 
him tovvards home, and near the road he had 
stopped him, and then waited for me to come up 
and take him, and while here they were ob- 
served by some travellers passing along at this 
time, and before I had time to come up with 
him, although I made long strides on my snow 
shoes, as I feared something would happen to 
him still ; when I came up, I found the traveller 
had been to the house and obtained a gun and 
shot him, and to my great motification, I found 
him dead, with the man exulting in triumph over 
this great feat which he had performed. I then 
told him the great disappointment which he had 
unconsciously given me, but as he was dead it 
was of no use to make many words about it, so 
he helped me to bring him home, and here he 
was served like the former one, and sent to 
Portland. 

In March, I hired Esquire Stuart to come with 
his compass and go into the woods, and see if 
there could not be a better and more practica- 
ble way found to ascend the Mountains. We 
set out with provisions, blankets, fire-works, and 
snow-shoes for the woods. We set our compass 
— spotted trees, which made a line to be fol- 
lowed at another time. When night came on 



50 HISTORY OF THE 

I built a camp, and struck up a fire. We ate 
our supper and retired with our dog quietly to 
rest. We spent three days in making this search 
and returned well satisfied we had found the 
best way ; for the road which we had heretofore 
travelled is an uneven one, going up a hill and 
then down again, and this in so many succes- 
sions, that it made it tiresome to those who were 
not acpumstomed to this kind of journeying ; 
and the way which we had now found is over a 
comparative level surface for nearly seven miles, 
following the source of the Amanoosuc, or Om- 
pompanassook, until we arrived at the foot of 
Mount Washington, and then taking a ridge or 
spur of the hill. We could now ascend without 
much difficulty, and found there might be a road 
made, with some expense, sufficiently good, so 
that we might ride this seven miles, which we 
thought would facilitate the visitor very much in 
his progress : and, to add to my encouragement 
some gentlemen from Boston made a subscrip- 
tion in 1823 to this purport : that, providing I 
should make a good carriage road and have it 
passable in three years, they would be holden to 
pay the sums which were set against their re- 
spective names ; and we had nearly $200 sub- 
scribed for this purpose ; but as I was already 
under so much embarrassment I did not feel 
able to build an addition to my house, and I well 
knew that if I made this road and did not have 
suitable accommodations for those who would be 
likely to come, it would only be imposing upon 
the public to have a road to the Mountain and 



WHITE MOUNTAINS. 51 

not have house room enougli to make those 
comfortable who came to stay with us. I, there- 
fore, was obhged to give up this generous offer 
of theirs, and at my own expense do what I could 
from one year to another, — but still intending to 
do every thing in my power to make all happy 
as possible in my humble situation. 

In the summer, just before haying, I hired 
men and went with them to cut this path, and 
while in the woods, at the distance of three miles 
from home, as I was standing on an old log 
chopping, with my axe raised, the log broke and 
I came down with such force that it struck my 
right ancle and glanced, nearly cutting my heel 
cord off : I bled freely, and so much so that I 
was unable to stand or go. The men that were 
wdth me — one, a brother of mine, and another 
stout man — took the cloths we had our dinner 
wrapped in, and tied up my wound as well as 
they could, and then began to contrive means to 
get me out of the woods. They cut a round 
pole, and with their frocks which they wore tied 
me in underneath it, and thought they could 
carry me in like manner as we bring dead bears 
through the woods ; but in this way I could not 
ride. They then let me down, and took turns 
in carrying me on their backs, until we got out 
of the woods ; and then one of then came home 
and got a horse, on whose back I was assisted to 
get ; and I thus rode home with both feet on 
one sije in ladies' fashion, and when I arrived 
there I was assisted in alighting. There hap- 
pened to be at my house then, a Mrs. Stabbard, 



bZ HISTORY OF THE 

who is known in our country, and bore the name 
of Granny Stalbard, whose head was whitened 
with more than eighty years, — who ought to be 
remembered for the good she had done, and the 
]nany sufferings and hardships she endured to 
assist others in distress, and one who seemed to 
be raised for the same end for which she lived 
in those days. She was an old Doc tress woman; 
one of the first female settlers in Jefferson, and 
she had learned from the Indians the virtues of 
roots and herbs, and the various w^ays in which 
the}^ could be made useful. Now the old lady 
said it was best to examine this wound and have 
it properly dressed up ; but as it had stopped 
bleeding I told her I thought it better to let it 
remain as it then was ; but she thinking she was 
the elder, and knew better, unwrapped it, and it 
soon set bleeding afresh, and it was with difti- 
culty she now stopped it. She, however, went 
into the field, plucked some young clover leaves, 
pounded them in a mortar, placed them on my 
wound ; this stopped the blood so suddenly that 
it caused me to faint, — this was a new thing to 
me — a large stout man to faint ! — which made 
me feel rather queerly, but there was no help 
for it. This wound laid me up pretty much the 
rest of the summer, but still we persevered, and 
these men, with some others, finished cutting the 
path through the woods. So it is that men suf- 
fer various ways in advancing civilization, and 
through God, mankind are indebted to the labors 
of men in many different spheres of life. 



d- f% 



CHAPTER V 



This fall came Captain Partridge vAih a num" 
ber of Cadets to ascend the Mountain, and as I 
was not able to walk, we were under the neces- 
sity of sending for our nearest neighbor, Mr* 
Rosebrook, to guide them ; and likewise at other 
times we were obliged to send for him to guide 
gentlemen up the Hills. 

At this time there was to be a general muster 
at Lancester, and as I was lame and not able to 
walk, Lucy was anxious to visit her parents in 
Guildhall, just opposUe that place, and we con- 
cluded to go and see them ; and on the day ap- 
pointed, I with others went to see the soldiers 
perform, and while on the ground I was sitting 
down, there came a man who was celebrated 
for wrestling and laid hold of me and stumped 
me to throw him* I eased him off, and then he 
went to others in the same way, and received 
oimilar treatment, until he upset a whole row of 
aid men sitting on a rail fence or board. He 
seme again and insisted upon my taking hold 
with him. I told him I was not in the habit of 
that kind of sport, and also I was lame and could 
not, even had I a disposition to ; and he came 
the third time and caught hold of my vest and 
rent it several inches in length, and at the same 
lime with his foot gave me such a blow on mv 
5* 



Oi III STORY OF THE 

lame ancle that the hurt raised my temper to 
such a degree that, unconscious of what I did, I 
put my fist in such an attitude that it laid him 
prostrate on the ground. He was taken up with 
rather a disfigured face ; for which I was im- 
mediately sorry, for I knew he was influenced 
by liquor ; but it w^as done — and many were 
glad of it — while I was ashamed to think I had 
given way to passion, and when I came to where 
Lucy was, I asked her to forgive my imprudence 
by mending my vest. I told her it should be 
the last time I would give way to an angry pas- 
sion, and I have thus far kept my word. 

In August 31, 1821, there came three young 
ladies, the Misses Austins, who were formerly 
from Portsmouth, to ascend the Hills, as they 
were ambitious and wanted to have the honor 
of being the first females who placed their feet 
on this high, and now, celebrated place, Blount 
Washington. They were accompanied by their 
brother and Charles J. Stewart, Esq., who was 
then engaged to one of them, and married her, 
July 4th, 1822, and Mr. Faulkner, who was then 
a tenant on their farm in Jelferson, attending 
with their baggage. They were provided with 
every thing necessary for the expedition, and 
set forward. They went as far as the first 
Camp that night, dividing it into two apartments, 
and then put up. The next morning they pur- 
sued their v/ay until they reached the next 
camp, which they in like manner divided. It 
came on unfavorable weather, and now being in 
pretty good quarters, they stayed and waited for 



WHITE MOlJx\TAINS. 55 

a better prospect. As their store of provisions 
began to fall short, Mr. Faulkner came in and 
Baid that I must, if I possibly could, go and re- 
lieve him, as he had grain out in the field, then 
suffering, and they wished to have me accom- 
pany them. 

I now mustered all my courage, as I was then 
lame, took a load on my back and a cane in my 
hand to help my lame foot, which was now 
healed over, and went and overtook them. The 
weather also lookhig favorable, we ascended at 
six o'clock in the morning, and reached the sum- 
mit just before the sun had got to the meridian. 
What a beautiful sight ! we could look over the 
whole creation with wonder and surprise, as far 
as the eye could extend, in every direction, and 
view the wonderful works of God! Every 
large pond and sheet of water was plain to be 
seen, within the circuit of one hundred miles, 
for some time, until the sun had got up so high 
as to cause a vapor to rise from the waters ; this 
also, was grand to see ; the commencement of 
the little vapor, which v/ould grow larger and 
larger, until it made a cloud and entrenched the 
view. Houses and farms were to be seen at a 
distance, so far off that they appeared nothing 
more than small specks. At one time, previous, 
when here with some gentlemen, we counted 
forty-two different ponds in different directions. 
The Sebago Pond is distinctly to be seen, and 
some have thought they could see the ocean 
from this place ; but as there is no object be- 
yond, it appears to look like a cloud, differing 



66 HISTORY OF THE 

only a trifle in color from the sky. The ladies 
returned, richly paid for their trouble, after being 
out five days and three nights. I think this act 
of heroism ought to confer an honor on them, as 
every thing was done with so much prudence 
and modesty by them ; there w^as not left a 
trace or even a chance for a reproach or slan- 
der excepting by those who thought themselves 
outdone by these young ladies. 

This winter, 1822, as my ankle was weak, 
and the rheumatism now found its way to it, 
I stayed at home as much as possible, doing only 
what necessity really compelled me to, and in 
the spring I made a considerable improvement 
on my mountain road. This summer I went on 
the mountain with one gentleman, and he was 
a good traveller, and we reached the top of the 
mountain and returned to the camp before sun- 
set ; he proposed coming home that night ; we 
took some refreshments and started, and we 
came along until it grew quite dark, and I pro- 
posed taking a little nap and waite for the moon 
to rise and give us some light. He hesitated a 
little in consequence of the wild beasts, which 
he said might happen along, and take us while 
sleeping. I advised him to calm his fears for 
my faithful dog w^ould keep watch. We took 
our blankets and laid down and soon fell asleep; 
presently their came a large bear spattering 
along in full speed, and as the air came along 
with him he did not perceive us until within 
a few feet of us, and then the dog sprang uj) 
and went after him ; this awakened us, and as 



WHITE MOUNTAINS. 



57 



tlic moon had now got up so high as to shine 
among the trees, we could pursue our path quite 
well, and arrived home about twelve o'clock. 

We set traps and caught two at one time, and 
some more at other times this season, from which 
we obtained considerable oil. 

In August, v/e had some young gentlemen 
from a University, — they were preparing for the 
ministry ; and as they needed exercise, and a 
respit from their studies, they chose this place 
to spend their leisure hours, and regain their 
strength, and view and contemplate upon the 
works of God, and climb the Mountain. I went 
with them as guide, and on the way I tried to 
shorten the distance and make their toil less 
tiresome by some anecdotes and telling some 
little stories ; but as this did not coincide with 
their feelings, I gave up these trifles and re- 
mained silent most of the way ; and when arriv- 
ing at the summit, they on this high and elevated 
spot, oifered prayers to Almighiy God for his 
goodness. This was, I think, the first prayer I 
ever heard on this Mountain. This appeared 
solemn — now so high in the air, where we could 
look down upon inferior objects — what could be 
more interesting ? 

The same month others came, and among 
them was a sea captain, a man of good statue 
and heavy ; he, while coming down from the 
hill, and in the act of jumping from one stone 
to another, laying there promiscuously, slipped, 
and unfortunately sprained his ancle. This was 
yome trouble to him the rest of the way ; how- 



58 HISTORY OF THE 

ever, he managed to get home. This was the 
greates mjury happening to any person, while 
going up or coming clown the hills, to my knowl- 
edge, during our stay at the White Mountains. 

This sumnVer, we had some trouble with uncle 
William, as brother had predicted, when he 
told uie if I should go up there, I must expect 
trouble from dear relatives. As our situation 
was so uncomfortable, grandmother was under 
the necessity of making my father's house her 
home ; and she was desirous of having William 
live with her ; yet she did not complain of his 
being ill treated, but wanted him, and coaxed 
him to go there and live with her. But he did 
not stay Ibng, as they could do whhout him. 
They advised him to come home again, but this 
was contrary to the old lady's feelings ; and she 
then advised him to go and live with his brother, 
and as he had ever been at her command, he 
obeyed her, and went. But this was not home 
to him ; and after a while, he returned ; and 
said he would not be controlled any more, but 
would remain on his farm ; he, therefore, came 
back, and received from us as good treatment 
as he ever had done. 

In September, as I was ascending the moun- 
tain with two young gentlemen, we saw in the 
path, at some distance from the camp, a large 
bear's track, but saw nothing of the bear. On< 
our descent, near this place, the dog left us, and 
in a few minutes, went to bearking in great 
earnest. I said he has something. I went a 
few steps and saw a cub, the bigness of a good 



WHITE MOUNTAINS. 59 

si?:e(l cnr dog, climbing a tree. And how we 
could get hini^ was the next thing. We talked 
it over, and agreed that one should stand in the 
road and keep watch for the old one, whom 
we expected, should she hear the cries of her 
cub; and the otner should cUmb the tree, and 
get him off, while I and the dog should remain 
at the foot of the tree and take him. The cub 
was followed up the tree in good style. Ho 
then walked out on a limb, and from that into a 
small tree, which I took hold of, and shook so 
hard that he fell off, and the dog caught him. 
I then took hold of him, and tying his mouth 
with my handkerchief, brought him safely home, 
and kept him some time. At length a hired 
man set up a pole, and tied a leather strap 
around his neck, and gave him a trough of water 
to bathe in. This he enjoyed remarkably well 
for a while, but when the strap stretched, he 
slipped out his head and said, I suppose, good 

day. 

This winter, 1822, I spent in buying salt, and 
transporting it from Portland to Colebrook, and 
exchanging it for grain ; I likewise bought a nice 
mare, for which I paid in salt. I transported the 
salt with this mare by sleigh loads. This winter 
my dog caught a great many deer, and would 
go with any one who desired him ; but an enemy 
wanted him, and as he could not have, because 
he was engagd, he gave him poison ; and I lost 
my famous dag. But shortly after, I bought 
another equally as good. 

In June, when returning from the camp, in 



60 HISTORY OF THE 

company with two young gentlemen, as we were 
travelling along, we saw a bunch of mountain 
ash ; they stopped, and each cut for himself a 
beautiful, nice and straight cane, which they 
intended to carry home with them; and after 
this was done, we again pursued our path — I 
forward, and they after me, in Indian file, as 
this was the manner in which we used to travel. 
The one behind saw another bunch, from which 
he thought he could select a better cane. He 
stopped to cut it, while we were walking on ; 
and he, being in a hurry, after he had cut this, 
to overtake us, unmindfully crossed the path, 
and steered directly into the woods. The other 
one that was next to me, observed his com- 
panion was not with us, was alarmed, saying he 
was subject to fainting fits, and thought he must 
have fainted. I immediately threw off my load 
and ran back to where I supposed we left him ; 
there I hollowed as loud as my lungs would ad- 
mit, a number of times. He at length heard, 
and stopped. He was completely lost, and could 
not find his way back. He answered, and I 
went to him, and put him in the right path again. 
This frightened me more than all the bears in 
the woods ; but it however served as a lesson 
to others, never to give up a certainty for an 
uncertainty. 



CHAPTER VL 

This summer, 1823, Chancellor Kent, from 
New York, came to my house, with two young 
gentlemen. As he was desirous of passing this 
way, he hired a private conveyance here, after 
leaving the stage, which did not then pass 
through the Notch, as the mail was then some- 
times transported on horse-back and sometimes 
in a one horse wagon. He chartered me to 
carry them to Conway, when they would take 
the stage again. After putting up with our ac- 
commodations, through the night, in the morning 
I harnessed my two mares, who had each a 
young colt, and they took the road foi^ward and 
their mothers behind, which made a regular 
team ; this amused them much. I carried them 
to the destined place, the same day ; and while 
on the way, we had an interesting time in ex- 
changing jokes, &c. 

In July, another man and myself took blankets, 
provisions, and other necessary things, for a 
small party, who were going to stay the second 
night, on Mount Washington, as they were de- 
sirous of being there and seeing the appearance 
of the sun, when it should set in the evening an^l 
rise in the morning. After staying at the foot 
of the hill over night, we ascended, and being 
there in season, went to work and built three 
stone cabins. We then collected a quantity 
6 



62 HISTORY OF THB 

of dry moss, laid it in them for beds, spread 
our blankets, and at an early hour, on this ele- 
vated spot, retired to rest, now prostrate on the 
ground, so much nearer Heaven than what we 
had ever been accustomed. Our sleep was not 
exactly sound, but was interrupted by dreams, 
which one would naturally suppose would be 
the case. In the morning we awoke by times 
to view the object we came for. We had the 
advantage of our neighbors, in seeing the ap- 
pearance of light first ; and when the sun rose, 
it came up, as it were, behind a veil, and ap- 
peared the bigness of a good sized cart-wheel. 
We could look upon it without straining oui: 
eyes, as well as we can look upon the full 
moon ; and then it rose from behind this cloud, 
and came out in its full splendor and glory. 
This was the first night I ever slept on Mount 
Washington. One of the party made the fol- 
iowing lines : 

The Muses' most inspiring draught, 
From Helicon's pure fountain quaff'd, 
What is it, to the rising sun, 
Seen from the top of Washington I 
Cans't thou bear a dreary night ? 
Stranger ! go enjoy the sight. 

We then returned over Munroe, Franklin and 
Pleasant Mountain, following our old path, came 
in at the Notch, and from there home. 

It was now beginning to be fashionable for 
ladies, attended by gentlemen, to visit this place, 
both for health and amusement ; and we were 
most of the time crowded. As our house was 



WHITE flIOUNTAliXS. 63 

SO small we could not accommodate but a few 
at a time, although we could give them clean 
beds ; but they were obliged to stow closely at 
night, and near the roof, as we had but two 
small sleeping rooms down stairs, and these 
were generally occupied by ladies ; the gentle- 
men were under the necessity of going up stairs, 
and there lay so near each other, that their beds 
nearly touched; but as we did all we could for 
them, they seemed satistied with it. 

In August, there came at one time, three dif- 
ferent parties, which made quite a number for 
us in those days. Early in the morning, the 
gentlemen set out for the Hrlls, leaving the 
ladies to amuse themselves and achieve such 
victories as they, in their capacity, might think 
proper. After dinner, the ladies inquired if the 
hill north of my house had ever been visited, 
and whether there were any views that were 
interesting ? And after receiving an answer in 
the affirmativ^e,they started and took the nearest 
route, which was a very rough one. One of 
them being active and ambitious, said she would 
be the first one up. She then set out in great 
haste, supposing that this could be done in a 
few minutes. The day being warm, she soon 
grew fatigued, and perspiring freely, she gave 
out before she had attained^ half its summit; 
and returned, nearly exhausted. She said this 
hill should bear the name of Mount Deception, 
for its deceptive appearance ; and, from this cir- 
cumstance, it has since been called by that 
name. The other ladies, taking it with more 



G-1 HISTORY OF THE 

moderation, reached the top of the hill ; here 
they could see some habitations in Bethel, and 
had a good prospect of the valley, and the way 
in which we travel to go up the Mountain, 
which is a delightful view. They returned in 
a different way. In the evening, I amused them 
with the sound of my long tin horn, sent me by 
a. gentlemen from Portland, for the benefit of the 
echo, which, when the horn was sounded, would 
vibrate along the side of the hili, until the 
sound would die away on the ear. This had a 
strange effect on one lady, as she said it seemed 
when the horn was sounded as if it were 
answered by a supernatural voice from Heaven, 
inspiring her with strange ideas or feelings, 
which she never before experieJiced. 

Again we had another party come, from which 
I will relate a circumstance. We went up the 
mountain, the weather then looked favorable, 
until we reached^ the top of the hill , and then 
we went into a cloud, which was dark all around 
us. Having reached the summit, and not hav- 
ing any landmarks to direct us back, and not 
being acquainted with the weather here, we 
stayed only long enough for them to carve iheir 
names, and then tried to return ; but I was lost, 
myself, for a short time. I started towards the 
east, and we wandered about until we came 
near the edge of a great gulf. Here we stay- 
ed and amused ourselves by rolling such large 
stones as we could find loose, and these being 
started, went with such force that they would 
take otliers with lliem, and then rest only in the 



WHITE MOUNTAirsS. 



65 



valley beneatli. Although a little danger was 
encountered in this kind of sport, had one of 
us have slipped accidentally, and have been pre- 
cipitated down the gulf; yet it was actually a 
grand sight ; and while we were enjoying this, 
there came up a strong wind and carried away 
the clouds in as short time as they had been 
gathering and comming on. Now what a con- 
trast, to have the darkness all taken away, and 
then a perfect clear sunshine come on. It 
cheered all hearts. We then had a good pros- 
pect of all the country around, and this oppor- 
tunity was not lost. We could see what course 
to steer, beat our way towards the path and 
succeeded in finding it and returned home. 

At another time I went up the mountains with 
two gentlemen ; we started in the morning, 
with the prospect of a clear day ; and having 
attained the summit, could see the clouds gath- 
ering below us ; and, as the lightning streaked 
along in the clouds, a rumbling noise was heard, 
but not like the sound of thunder. Here, as 
there was nothing to give it an echo, it only 
sounded like a rumbling noise, in the distance ; 
but it was near us. What a situation to t)e 
placed in, so high in the air ! Like the eagle, 
we could now look down upon a raging storm, 
while the atmosphere above, was perfectly 
clear. We then went down to Blue Pond, and, 
while here, the wind came up, attended with 
hail, which descended with such violence, that 
it seemed as though every hail stone left a mark 
on our faces ; and to prevent losing our hats, 
6^ 



66 HISTORY OF THE 

v/e were obliged to tie them on with our hand- 
kerchiefs. We went strugg-ling against the 
w^ind a distance of one and a half miles ; some- 
times it was with difficulty we could stand or 
walk; until after we had attained this distance ; 
we then got below the wind, and could now pur- 
sure our way home, in a moderate rain ; we 
arri\^ed there, completely drenched. 

Two gentlemen from Bostofi, came and went 
up the mountains ; and after remaining on its 
summit as long as they wished, returned by the 
way of Blue Pond, and from thence, down 
Escape Glen, as they termed it, to the camp — a 
passage romantic, but precipitous ; where one of 
them, as they said, came near loosing his life, 
by taking hold of an old root of a tree to sup- 
port himself, which gave away. He was over 
a perpendicular precipice of fifty feet; but for- 
tunately, saved himself, and returned safely 
home. He experienced no injury, save that of 
being frightened. 

This spring and summer, the Grey Cat or 
Siberia Lynx, troubled us very much, making 
several depredations among our sheep and geese, 
and we underwent some fears for the safety of our 
children. These cats were bold and not affraid 
of man — never putting themselves much out of 
the way to shun him. At one time a gentleman 
was coming down Cherry Mountain, in a sleigh, 
and saw two of these animals engaged in a 
quarrel, as it appeared to him, in the road before 
him; and it was with some difficulty that he 
could convince them that the road belonged to 



WHITE MOUNTAINS. 67 

him ; but with some entreaties, they separated, 
one on either side, giving him just room to pass. 
He said he might have reached them with his 
whip, but as they were content to let him pass, 
he was content not to disturb them in their 
angry looking position. I set traps, and in 
various ways tried to catch them. 1 even killed 
a hen and set her for bait, feathers and all on, 
in the appearance of life, supposing they would 
like this, but they only seemed to amuse them- 
selves by this, in coming up and looking at it, 
and then passing on. At length I thought of 
one more thing to try. I took some pickled fish, 
which had a strong smell to it, for bait ; and the 
first one afterwards who happened this way, had 
the curiosity to see what was there ; and as the 
trap was between him and the fish, he put his foot 
into the trap and was held fast. He managed 
to move the trap a little distance, but was soon 
fastened by the grapple, which caught in a 
thicket, where I found him. He was lying 
partly hid, and I did not perceive him until I 
came near stepping upon him, when he suddenly 
started up, and I as soon sprang back to find 
something to defend myself with; and when 
prepared, entered into an engagement with him; 
which was rather a tough one, he having the 
advantage, being in the ticket. I conquered 
him, at last, and brough him home in triumph ; 
he measured six feet and over. In this, and 
similar ways, I caught six of them. The next 
spring I took one by stratagem ; as I Avas trav- 
elling down tlirough the Notch, with a team and 



65 HISTORY OF THE 

dog, below the Notch House, while we were 
going on, my dog Ciame upon the track of one 
of these animals, who had just crossed the road 
before us ; the dog follow^ed so closely, that the 
animal sprang into a tree, and then the dog set 
at the bottom, barking earnestly at him. I 
knew he had something, and leaving my team 
in the road, took my small axe with me, which 
I always carried, and went to him ; he was up 
a tree thirty feet, watching the movements ot 
the dog. I then cut two birch sticks, the longest 
I could select, and twisting the ends put them 
together, and at one extremity of the stick I 
made a ring with a slip noose to it ; this I run 
up through the boughs of the tree, and so man- 
aged to get it over his head, then giving a sud- 
den jerk, brought him down ten feet; he caught 
on a limb, and the halter slipped off. I then 
fixed it again, and he being nearer, gave me a* 
better chance ; I put it over his head, down on 
his neck, so that it held him fast, and then giv- 
ing another jerk, fetch him to the ground. The 
dog instantly seized him, but the cat soon extri- 
cated himself, by tearing him with his claws, 
which he seemed to know how to apply very 
actively, causing the dog to cry for quarters. 
The cat tiiem gave a jump the length of the 
stick, over a spruce top four feet high, with the 
halter still around his neck, and here he hung ; 
I then fell beating him with a club, which I had* 
previously prepared, and the dog recovering 
himself, assisted me, and w^e soon finished him. f 
Shouldering my booty, I returned to my team, ■ 



WHITE MOUNTAOS. 69 

and placing liim on it, carried him down to my 
father's, and there leaving him, resumed my 
journey. On my return I took him home. I 
never saw but one afterwards, and that, as I 
was coming down Cherry Mountain; the dog 
drove him into a tree, and I followed him up 
there, myself; but the trees were so thick that 
he jumped from one to another, and thus made 
his escape, for the time. But shortly after, I 
had a trap set in a brook, near the mouth, where 
it empties into the Amanoosuc, hoping that I 
might catch an otter ; the trap set near the end of 
a log which crossed the stream, and was fastened 
by a chain to a limb, six feet above the water ; 
and this cat, wanting to cross the brook here, 
walked on the log, when, stepping off, he put 
his foot into the trap, and there he was held. 
He managed to get back on the log, and then 
on the limb, and wound up the chain in such a 
manner, that he could not get either way ; here 
I found him, dead, suspended between heaven 
and earth. On these animals I had a premium 
of three dollars apiece, which nearly paid me 
for my loss and trouble. After making this 
havoc among them, I was never troubled with 
any of them again, while living at the Hills; 
and there being no signs of them, I supposed I 
destroyed the whole family. 

In October there came to my house a family 
from Portsmouth, wdio had hired a man to carry 
them to Jefferson, in a coach, and it had begun 
to snow before they arrived here, and they con- 
cluded to put up with me for the night, and had 



70 HISTORY OF THE 

it not been for this circumstance, they would 
have had time to have finished their journey 
that night. The next morning, as it continued 
to snow, the man hired me to carry them the 
rest of the v/ay ; and the other returned home. 
They stayed the next day, and the second morn- 
ing, as it had done snowing, I harnessed up two 
horses and put them on before a good yoke of 
oxen and commenced my task, and when going 
over Cherry Mountain, the snow was plumb two 
feet deep. We worked hard all day to get 
twelv^e miles ; there I stayed over night, and the 
next day I made out to get home again. This 
snow all went off before winter and left us. 

I had this fall engaged the Notch House, and 
agreed to furnish it with such things as are 
necessary for the comfort of travellers and their 
horses. It is the case sometimes in the winter, 
that if no one lived here, people, it seems, must 
sufTer with the cold, for the wind comes down 
through the narrows of the Notch ^vith such vio- 
lence, that it requires two men to hold one man's 
hair on, as I have heard them say. I have never 
found it to blow so hard here as to equal this, 
yet it has blown so hard as to take loaded sleighs 
and carry them several rods to a stone wall, 
which was frozen down so firmly that it was 
impenetrable, and there the sleigh stopped. I 
heard a second-handed story from a clergyman, 
that the wind was once known to blow so hard 
here, that it took a log chain and carried it to 
the distance of a mile or more ; but I do not tell 
this as a fact, only as a story which is told, and 



WHITE MDUNTAIJtS. 71 

perhaps believed by some credulous folks who 
live at a distance and form strange ideas of this 
place. At one time I was going down to the 
Notch House, with a load of hay to an occupant 
there; when going round the elbow of the Notch 
there came a gust of wind and upset my load 
towards the gulf. 1 instantly turned myself, 
and placed my feet against the raihng on the 
road, that was put there for the purpose of keep- 
ing horses from running off, which if I had not 
done, my load must have gone over a precipice 
of an hundred feet, with the horses attached to 
it, and I cannot say where I should have been. 

Here I waited until the wind abated, and then 
I put my shoulder under and righted it again, 
and went on. At another time some young peo- 
ple were going down here, and at or near the 
top of a long hill, one of the company's horses 
made a mis-step and fell. In the fall, by some 
means or other, the horse entirely cleared him- 
self of all his harness, and lay by the side of 
the road, while they were permitted to pass by 
and go a considerable distance by themselves, 
and the horse stopped yet behind, which made 
sport enough for the rest of the company for 
some time. 

This winter, 1824, I bought hay at Jefferson, 
and carried it sixteen miles to furnish the Notch 
place with it ; and I had been advised by my 
friends, to build an addition to my house, which 
I was at first, rather unwilling to do, owing to 
my limited circumstances, not yet being extrica- 
ted from my first obligations ; hov/ever, I com- 



IIISTOnY OF THE 



menecJ elrawino- lumber from Bethlehem, a c 



lis- 



tance of twelve miles, and this work, with draw- 
ing hay, and other necessary business, occupied 
my whole time for this winter. In the spring I 
hired hands, and went industriously to work^ and 
soon had a frame, thirty-six by forty feet, two 
stories high, and it was raised by thirteen hands. 
This was thought to be sufficiently large to ac- 
commodate all who would be likely to call upon 
us. During the summer and fall we had the 
outside finished and painted. In July, we had a 
number of excellent gentlemen, some of whom 
were from the Southern States, to visit us, who 
gave us an account of their manner of living 
there, and a description of the countiy, man- 
ners, &c., which vv^as interesting; and another 
gentlemen, a painter, from a different part of the 
country, who took some beautiful sketches of 
the hills and likewise of the Notch, which 
sketches, I presume, have been finished and 
presented to the public. 

In August, we had another party who ascend- 
ed the Mountain, and while here the clouds 
passed swiftly from under us and a rumbling 
noise of thunder was heard, which excited a 
clergyman, one of the party, who offered up a 
very appropriate prayer to Almighty God, and 
then we sung Old Hundred, in the lines set to 
that tune. 



CHAPTER VII. 

This summer, owing to the dampness of the 
place on Mount Washington, where we built 
.stone cabins, we never but once afterwards slept 
in them. I went to Portland and there bought 
a marque — for which 1 paid twenty-two dollars 
— sufficiently large for eighteen persons to sleep 
under at a time ; and a sheet-iron stove, for 
which I paid six dollars : and these I carried 
on, or near the top ; and spreading our tent near 
a spring of water Avhich lives here. Our tent 
Avith the tackling belonging to it, I had put up 
in as small a compass as possible, and it weighed 
eighty pounds and over. I then took it on my 
back and carried it almost the whole distance 
myself; but as I had some visitors then going 
Up with me — one, who looked, and thought 
he felt as stout as 1 was, kindly offered to assist 
and relieve me, took my load, but could not 
carry it far before he was satisfied with it. He 
then laid it down and I took it again and con- 
veyed it the remainder of the way : and on the 
way we cut a pole to stretch this round, and I 
carried that up also. This, however, did not 
last long, as the storms and wind are so violent 
here that w^e could not keep it in its place, and 
it sooif wore out. At the same time we car- 
7 



74 HISTORY OP THE 

ried up a piece of sheet lead, which I had pur- 
chased, eight or ten feet in length, seven inches 
wide, and the thickness of pasteboard ; this was 
put round a roller, which I made for the pur- 
pose, for the benefit of those who went up, and 
wished to leave their names ; which they could 
now do much quicker and easier, with an iron 
pencil which I made, than they could carve 
them with a chisel and hammer, on a rock. 

Shortly after this, a gentleman from Boston 
came, and went up the hill without a guide, anc 
while on the summit of this majestic mountain 
he thought it a tavorable occasion to reconsider 
the doings of the meeting held at the same place, 
on the 27th day of July last, by Thomas C. 
Upham and others. He called a meeting for 
the purpose, and as no other prominent person- 
age seemed to offer, he was invited to take the 
Chair, 7iemine contradicute. He fully explained 
the object of the meeting, to wit : To select s 
suitable man to govern this mighty people. He 
soon heard the name of the Hon. Jas. Kent, 
late Chancellor of New York, called out from all 
parts of this immense canopy, under which our 
meeting was held. On taking the vote, it was 
unanimously agreed to recommend him as a 
candidate to fill the highest office in this re- 
public. When he declared this vote, applause, 
long and loud, rent the sky, the echo of which 
still fills his ears. Believing the above nomina- 
tion will be hailed with joy by those who wish 
a virtuous man, unused to intrigue, to rule over 
us ; and who are heart-sick of cabal ,t)piitical 
juggling and rougery, he hereby pubiie!|ed it to 



WHITE MOUNTAINS. 75 

the nation, believing it his duty so to do. He 
then returned home, well satisfied with the pro- 
ceedings of the day ; an account of which he 
published in the Album, and left. I have here 
transcribed, to show how many different objects 
are sought on these mountains. 

September 10th, another party ascended the 
Moimtain ; the day was clear and warm ; they 
found ice in great quantities from four to six 
inches thick. 

October 2d, Captain Partridge came with fifty- 
two Cadets, and as I was gone from home, Lucy 
managed and got along with them as well as 
she could. It was not far from the middle of 
the day when they arrived, and the Captain, as 
he had been there before, took apart of them 
and proceeded towards the camp that night, for 
the purpose of having the next day before him 
to make some barometrical observations, and the 
others went the same afternoon down to view the 
Notch and its wonders. Thence they returned 
the same evening and stayed with us that night. 
Lucy gave ihem all the beds she then had — which 
was not enough to accommodate them. Some 
slept on the floor and some slept in the barn, 
and at one time, a number of them stacked 
themselves up in a pile by the side of the fence, 
in a bright moonshine ; but this was not a very 
comfortable situation, for the bottom ones re- 
moved their quarters and returned to the barn. 
The next morning after breakfast, they took a 
guide and went and met the Captain and his 
party coming down the hill ; they, however, 
went up, and back as far as the camp, and there 



76 HlSTOllY OF THE 

stayed that niglit, while the former party came 
home, and the next morning they all came to- 
gether again to breakfast. We had one room 
half the bigness of the house, which we used as 
a kitchen, a victualing room, a sitting room, and 
when crowded, a sleeping room ; but we were a 
little better off, at this time, having a cooking 
stove in a wood-shed adjoining the house, but 
this place was not large enough to do all the 
work in, therefore w^e had to use the kitchen to 
do the rest of the work in. Though suffering 
all these inconveniences, Lucy never murmured 
or complained, but bore them with patience, say- 
ing there was an overruling Providence in all 
these things, and that these, and some other dif- 
ficulties, were to try us, and she would always 
put some good construction on everything, and 
view things on the bright side, and in this way 
we got along, and lived peaceably together, with- 
out any difficulty. 

In the winter of 1S25, I bought brick for a 
chimney, and had them to draw twenty-one 
miles, which made quite a job of it ; the lumber 
I had to draw from twelve to twenty miles. 
This, with what other work I had to do, made a 
good winter's work for me. The doors we had 
made in the winter, and in the spring the joiner 
came and finished his w^ork ; and then, the ma- 
son and painter completed the rest, so that we 
had a house for our summer company, which 
increased yearly. 

At this time we began to feel quite comforta- 
ble, as we had a plenty of house room. This 
room required a good deal of furniture to make 



WHITE MOUNTAINS. 77 

it any way decent, without extravagance, and we 
we were obliged to buy such things as were 
really necessary, which did not seem much like 
getting out of debt, but still plunging in deeper 
and deeper. Yet my creditors were so generous 
as seldom or ever to call upon me, when I was 
unprepared to meet them. 

The first day of June, some gentlemen came, 
and went up the mountains. They had rather a 
fatiguing time of it, as we had not cleared the 
path of windfalls, which had fallen the preceding 
winter, and it was excessively warm in the 
woods, the thermometer standing at 95 deg., and 
on the summit at 60 deg. Heat so excessive is 
seldom experienced here. ISotwithstanding how- 
ever, the extreme labor which we had to encoun- 
ter, we felt ourselves amply rewarded by the 
clouds which enveloped the summit. The clouds 
on the top, occasionally broke away and gave us 
beautiful views ; others appearing between the 
mountains around us, now rolling up their sides, 
and now descending into the valley beneath, 
forming a magnificent prospect. As I have 
made some extracts from the visitor^s Album, I 
will make a few more, to show the difference of 
the weather, and the different descriptions given 
by them, as they come in course, not all, but 
only those which I think will be interesting for 
those who have never been here,so that they can 
form some idea of the place. 

July 12th, two gentlemen and a small boy 

came, and ascended the hill, unattended by a 

guide ; they went within three quarters of a 

mile of the top, when they were overtaken by a 

7# 



78 HISTORY OF THE 

thunder storm. One of them, with the boy, 
returned to the camp, while the other persevered 
and reached the summit. Mr. Hibbard, one 
of the gentlemen spoken of, gives the following 
account of his ascension : 

"In the aforesaid excursion^ I the said Hibbard, with 
precipitancy, ascended the Mountain, and reached the 
summit within three or four hundred feet, when I was 
overtaken with a thick cloudy vapor, which rushed on 
with awful majesty, unmolested in its course even by the 
mountain itself, and so completely beclouded my way 
that it was with ditiiculty I reached the summit. I then 
concluded to descend to the camp, but was met by the 
cloud, which shot forth vivid lightning all around me. It 
was then dark, and I made my way for the tent, on the 
summit ; and made myself as comfortable as I could 
through the night, but suffered some with cold." 

The followino lines were afterwards appended 
by M. F. M. Waterford, Jr.: 

*' Whoe'er thou art, go view the White Mountains, 
Their cloud cap't tops and clirystal fountains; 
Ascend and breath the healthy mountain air. 
And view the prospect spread so wide and fair — 
Then view the Notch, my friend, return and tell, 
Could you have spent your time and cash so well ? " 

The evening before, the view was grand and 
sublime. 

The same afternoon, a party from the Colum- 
bian Academy, with their Instructor, Rev. S. R. 
Hall, came, and at six o'clock in the evening set 
out, intending to reach the camp that night, but 
they Avere overtaken by the storm before men- 
tioned ; and I make use of their language to 
describe it. 

" The meuibers of the Columbian Academy proceeded 
at a very late hour, six o'clock, P. 31., from E. A. Craw- 



WHITE MOUNTAINS. 79 

ford's, aud were overtaken with a severe thunder shower, 
before we arrived at the first camp, three miles distant — 
and there was darkness impenetrable. We were -obliged 
to camp in an old camp, wet, cold and uncomfortable, but 
we took no cold; started at three o'clock, and arrived at 
the other camp, where we obtained fire, and soon had a 
comfortable breakfast. We then went towards the top of 
Mount Washington, and found it covered with impene- 
trable fog and clouds. We returned pleased but disap- 
pointed." 

July 27th, four gentlemen came from different 
parts of the country, and I went with them on 
their excursion. We started, and staid over 
night at the camp ; early the next morning we 
went up Mount Washington, and there enjoyed 
a noble prospect. On our way home, two of 
them and myself determined to fish, and after 
we had arrived to the right place, we turned out 
and went to the river, while the other two pro- 
ceeded towards home. Here we commenced 
our work, and as fast as we could put in a hook, 
the trout caught it. One of the party had three 
hooks attached to his line, and frequently caught 
three at a time ; but the bushes were so thick 
here, that they would get tangled and pester 
him. I told him I could beat him in taking 
them ; for I could put in and take one at a time, 
and get them faster than he could. He came to 
the same conclusion, and accordingly took off all 
his hooks but one. We had sport enough 
until satisfied I could carry no more home, and 
then we left off. We caught in a short time 
one hundred and thirty-five trout — as many as I 
could stow in my provision sack — then went 
home, with a plenty of this kind of food to last 
during their stay ; which was enjoyed with 
equal pleasure, a? when we were taking them. 



80 HISTORY OP THB 

<r- U 

About this time a Botanist came, who was 
making a collection of the plants of the White 
Mountains, as he could obtain here some rare 
ones, such as are not to be found elsewhere in 
America. 1 accompanied him in some of his 
tours around the mountains, and learned the dif- 
ferent plants and names, and tho different places 
where they grew. He went three times up and 
around the hills, and stayed some weeks with 
us. In one of his excursions, he was accom- 
panied by three gentlemen and a guide ; and the 
following d€scription of the excursion was given 
by one of the party : 

'* Left ]Mr. Crawford's house at seven o'clock, A. M., 
and reached the summit at one o'clock, P. M. In the 
afternoon we were governed by the Botanist and his 
guide. We concluded to camp on the summit and accor- 
dingly stowed ourselves away upon the moss on the lee 
side of a rock, without fire or candles, shivering and 
shaking in the mountain breeze, like asper leaves freezing 
with cold — the thermometer standing, at sunrise, at SS**. 
In the morning, two of them descended to the camp, 
while the Botanist, in company with the other, coasted 
along by Plue Pond and Mount Munroe, and descended 
the mountain by the most villanous break-neck route of 
the Amanoosuc God help the poor wight who attempts 
that route, as we did. And now, gentle reader, Heaven 
bless you and preserve your goings forth, forevermere. 
Good day." 

On the 4th of July, 1825, I think it was, but 
I may be mistaken in the exact time, although I 
was not concerned in the affair which then took 
place, a party from Jackson came up, on the 
other side of the Hills, and after enjoying the 
prospect as much as they chose, and using the 
spirit which we had left there in bottles — which 



WHITE MOUNTAINS. 81 

I justified them in doing, but did noi justify 
them in carrying away the bottles, which be- 
longed to mother — robbed the hills of the brass 
plate, my sheet lead and every thing left there 
by our friends — carrying all away. The lead, I 
was told, was run into balls ; the bottles, of 
course, were useful ; but what [use 'they could 
make of the brass, with the Latin inscription 
thereon, I am not able to say. But one thing I 
know, it discovered a thievish disposition tojake 
things which did not belong to them, and could 
not do them any good — things which had been 
placed there with care, and was expected to re- 
main, and would undoubtedly have remained, 
but for these mischievous persons, who did not 
understand what belonged to good manners. I 
have felt myself condemned for not prosecuting 
them, as they ought to have been chastised and 
dealt with in a manner according to their de- 
serts. They were found out, and promised to 
return the things they had purloined ; and that 
was all they ever did about it; but the names 
are known, and their deeds are registered. 

In August, a gentleman came from Boston, 
attended by his sister. She had made every 
suitable preparation, before leaving home, and 
was determined to ascend the Mountain — al- 
though she had been tried to be discouraged on 
her way, by all^ who knew her intentions, yet 
she was not so easily turned — she did not mean 
that there should be any thing lacking in a good 
will. She desired Mrs. Crawford to go with 
her, and as she had been, for a long time, 
anxious to go, I consented; and in the afternoon, 



89 HisToay of the 

having every thing in readiness, at four o'clock, 
we started. We rode to the woods, and, each 
taking a cane, pursued our journey. We walk- 
ed that night nearly six miles, and arrived at 
the camp in good season, with a tolerable pros- 
pect for the next day. Here all spent the night 
well, and early in the morning left for the 
Mountain ; but before we had got up fairly out 
of the woods, there came on a fog, with a thick 
mist of rain; this was a great disappointment 
to us. A council was held, and we agreed to 
return to the camp, and there wait for another 
day. We accordingly descended to the camp, 
and spent the remainder of the day; in the 
night it all cleared away, and the next morning, 
in good season, we were on the summit. How 
delightful ! Now the sun had risen, and as the 
rain had laid the smoke, the air was perfectly 
clear and warm — not a claud nor a vapor to be 
seen. We could look in every direction, and 
view the works of Nature as they lay spread 
before us — could see towns and villages in the 
distance, and so clear was the atmosphere, that 
we could distinguish one house from another ; 
but should I attempt to describe the scenery, my 
pen would fail, for want of language to express 
my ideas of the grandeur of the place. The 
butterfly was here, busily employed like our- 
selves, but, perhaps, not in the same way. I 
have here seen, seemingly, being a mile in the 
air and a mile above vegetation, squirrels, and 
mice, near the top of this hill, and large flocks 
of ravens, ducks, pigeons, robins and various 
other birds, fly over and around ; a flyiag squir- 



wniTB MOUNTAINS. 83- 

ril was once caught here, and also was a rabbit ; 
patridges are found in the vicinity ; and insects, 
of various kinds. After staying a sufficient 
length of time, we all started for home. Mrs. 
Crawford went and returned, without any assis- 
tance, excepting in descending what is called 
Jacob's Ladder, where I assisted her a short dis- 
tance. We arrived at the camp, and taking 
some refreshment, proceeded home, where we 
arrived about six o'clock. The ladies considered 
themselves richly paid, for their trouble and 
fatigue — walking nearly eighteen miles. This 
was the second party of ladies which ascended 
the mountains; never after this did vfe persuade 
ladies to follow their example ; but discouraged 
them whenever we could, endeavoring to pre- 
vent them not to attempt it, as we thought it too 
much of an undertaking; but when they became 
decided and must go, we did all we could to 
assist them. 

The appended extract gives a description of 
the tour : 

"The weather was tolerably clear, many clouds float- 
ing about, but not so as to obscure the mn. The wind 
blowing keen and very strong, prevented our stay longer 
than half an hour, on the top. The view, of course, ia 
very extensive, and presents a great sameness on every 
side ; barren and bleak, innumerable hills, many ponds, 
and the Green Mountains may be discerned in the more 
distant view. The river Amanoosuc presents one of the 
most pleasing objects, in its descent from Blue Pond, 
forming a sheet of silver down the mountain, and winding 
its serpentined course in the valley. This, contrasted 
with the deep shade of the pines and other trees, in sonfie 
degree, reUeves the eye. Several small streams imiting 
their waters with this river, soon make a sufficient body 



84 HISTORY or THE 

for trout fishing — many trout of a small size being caught 
in it. The weather improved on our descent, and after 
amusing ourselves to our notice, we returned about six 
o'clock, took supper and again rested all night in the 
camp, and the next morning arrived at Mr. Crawford's to 
breakfast." 

I will omit making any more extracts, but 
will insert fragments of the remaining Album, 
(much being lost,) and return to w^hat transpired 
at hpme, according to my own knowledge. The 
following is transcribed from the Album, being 
written there in the handwritting of Dr. Park : 

" August 27, 1825, John Park, Mrs. Park, Louisa 
Jane Park, John C. Park and Mary Ann Park, of Boston, 
Mass., arrived at ISlr. Crawford's, with the intention of 
ascending Mount Washington. Unfortunately for us, Mr. 
Crawford had left home, a few hours before we arrived, 
for Lancaster, and was not expected to return until the 
evening of the next day. Being limited as to time, and 
the mountains appearing clear, except a little bluish 
smoke, we determined to proceed on our visit ; on the 
28th, at two o'clock, P. M., we set out, with a young 
man for our guide, (Mr William Howe;) took the car- 
riage down to the field about a mile and a half from the 
house, where we were to enter the woods. In justice to 
Mrs. Crawford, I must here mention, that besides all Ler 
civilities, she added the very friendly offer to attend the 
ladies to the top of the mountain, and expiessed the most 
kind anxiety for them. After a walk, not very fatiguing, 
and, to us, in many parts, romantic and pleasant, we 
arrived at the camp twenty minutes before seven. Here 
Mr. Howe made us a roaring fire, prepared us supper, 
and all of us. Sachems and Squaws, betook ourselves to 
the apartmentments alloted to us. About midnight it 
began to rain furiously, but as the clouds came from the 
west we were still in hopes of a clear day. In the morn- 
ing, clouds flying thick, but as blue sky was occasionally 
visable, we concluded to ascend, and, after breakfast, 
took our departure from the camp, ten minutes past seven. 



WHITE (MOUNTAINS. 85 

on the morning of the 29th. Illtlierto the path had been 
on a general but moderate ascent. The camp is on the 
Amanoosuc, and on quitting it, we began immediately to 
ascend the steep, here making an angle of 45^^. To be 
particular would be tedious. The task is excessively 
laborious; for ladies, though not impracticable, it is too 
severe. Having been joined at the camp by our driver, 
Bachelder, each lady had an assistant, and though after 
passing the woods and bushy region, the wind became 
very fresh, we all continued to ascend, scrambling over 
the cliffs, for some time. At last, exhausted by fatigue, 
and coming to a shelf of rocks which appeared mpre than 
usual steep and difficult, ]Mrs. Park and my daughter 
Mary Ann, concluded it impossible to proceed. Unpleas- 
ant as it was to separate so near the summit, for we were 
now within three quarters of a mile from the apex, we 
saw no other plan; and, lodging I\Irs. Park and Mary Ann 
in a cleft between large rocks, where they would be in 
some degree sheltered by the wind, we proceeded ; my 
daughter Louisa Jane, having Mr. Howe to support her 
on one side and Batch elder on the other. It was a des- 
perate business ; the wind grew more violent every step 
we ascended, and the fog or cloud which enveloped us, 
was wet as rain. At twenty-five minutes past ten, we 
reached the top, in the midst of a dismal hurricane — no 
prospect — but certainly our situation partook much of the 
sublime, from our known elevation, the desolation around 
us and the horrors of the tempest. I have experienced 
gales in the Gulf Stream — tempests off Cape Hatteras — 
tornadoes in the West Indias, and been surrounded by 
water spouts in the Gulf of Mexico — but I never saw 
any thing more furious or more dreadful than this. I 
staid on the top but five minutes, anxious for those whom 
we had left. In less than a half of an hour, I found 
them safe, though cold and anxious. The rest of our 
party soon arris-ed, and taking a little refreshment, we 
began to descend together. Soon after we left the regions 
of barrenness and desolation and entered the woods, we 
were met by Mr. Crawford himself, who had kindly come 
out to see what might be our situation. We arrived safe 
and well at the encampment, at fifteen minutes after one, 
took a little refreshment, and continued our return to Mr. 



86 HISTORY OF TAB 

Crawford's, where wo arrived precisely at six o'clock, 
P. M., having been absent about twenty-eight hours. 

" Gentlemen, there is nothing in the ascent of Mount 
Washington that you need dread. Ladies, give up all 
thoughts of it; but if you are resolved, let the season be 
mild, — consult Mr. Crawford as to the prospects of the 
weather; and with every precaution, you will still find it, 
for you., a tremendous undertaking. 

" Though we were disappointed after all we had read 
and heard, in not having Mr. Crawford for our guide, yet 
we had no reason to complain. Mr. I] owe, who con- 
ducted us, will be found a faithful and obliging young 
man. Of Mr. and Mrs. Crawford's kindness and atten- 
tion, during our short stay here, we have ample reason to 
join in the common report of all travellers." 



CHAPTER VIII. 

In September, the same year, a small party of 
gentlemen and three ladies came to visit the 
mountains ; and I went with them. We stayed 
at the camp over night : next day we went up 
the hill and back again to the camp, with little 
trouble or fatigue. After this, when walking 
on a more level way, one of the ladies became 
lame in her ancles, and it was with difficulty 
she could walk. I then took off the bundle of 
clothes from my back and made a good cushion 
of them, and placed them on my right shoulder, 
took my hat in my left hand ; the gentlemen 
then sat her upon my right shoulder, and I 
brought her some miles in this way quite well. 
I have brought gentlemen along in a similar 
way, when they thought they could go no further. 

The following is another extract from the Al- 
bum : 



of rain, but the weather was good and the temperature 
of the air, comparatively warm on the summit. Our 
prospect but ill repaid us the flitigue of ascending, as the 
atmosphere was smoky. After remaining on the summit 
for more than an hour, and singing Old Hundred, in which 
the whole party joined, at half past eleven o'clock, we 
began to descend, and reached the camp in two hours 
and a half. Here the party rested and refreshed about 
an hour : left the camp and arrived at Mr. Crawford's at 



»8 HISTORY OF THE 

seven o'clock in the evening. As the ladies of our pnny 
iiiake a third of the number who hiive reached the suni- 
niit of INIount Washington, something may be expected to 
be said of them and of the practicability of the ascent for 
ladies. ;Miss Harriet C. Woodward performed the ascent 
and descent of the mountain and the walk from the camp 
to Mr. Crawford's, with much less fatigue than could 
have been expected. INIiss Lawrence suffered a little more. 
Miss Elizabeth Woodward supported the ascent and de- 
scend to the camp tolerably well, but became excessively 
fatigued and lame during the return walk from the camp 
to Mr. Crawford's, — and had it not been for the kind and 
humane attention and assistance of Mr. C. (which we 
here record with uuich gratitude) would scarcely have 
been able to have reached Mr. C.'s. In conclusion ; 
could ladies be carried and find a little more comfortably 
accommodations on the mountains, the ascent of Mount 
Washington even, would be a comparatively easy achieve- 
ment. As it is, ladies, do not attempt it : at least, 7iei-er 
b'lt in fair weuiker. Of Mr. Crawford's kindness and 
humanity nothing need be said : all who vi?it the moun- 
tain will be satisfied with it." 

Getting tired of carrying blankets every time 
we went up this mountain, and not being able 
to leave them in safety on account of the mice 
and squirrels, for they would make holes in 
them, unless we hanged them on a tree, and 
then they were exposed to the weather, — some- 
time in the forepart of the summer, I bought a 
sufficient quantity of sheet-iron and made a 
chest that would hold ten bushels — apparently 
large enough for the man who carried it to lie 
down and rest himself in it. This we placed at 
the camp and there made a deposite for all things 
that might be left there. We had eleven blank- 
ets, and cooking utensils for cooking a good warm 
meal : and would frequently add to the variety, 
by a dish of trout, which could be caught but 



WHITE MOUNTAINS. 89 

a few rods from the camp. These I could cook 
to a charm, much better ihan an old experienced 
cook in a city hotel could, — at least, they tasted 
much better here than there. 1 had a plenty of 
good salt pork to cook them with, and that is the 
very thing that gives them a relish — and fatigue 
would never fail of giving us good appetites. 
Afterwards I made my tea, and then could drink 
it in clean fresh-washed cups. I had here every 
convenience for doing all this work. I was pre- 
sented with a box of tin-ware from the before 
mentioned Botanist, containing an apparatus 
sufficient for a number to eat and drink together 
with ; and it was of a superior quality : and 
then on the corner of the iron chest, I w^ould 
sometimes put birch bark from a tree and spead 
it as a substitute for a cloth, and in this way I 
have enjoyed many a good meal with my friends. 
We had two camps built and they stood facing 
each other, and there was a good fire in the 
middle. The -wood we cut from six to eight 
feet in length and rolled it together, any way or 
size we could manage, and when one pile burnt 
out, we would put another on, and thus keep a 
good fire through the night. One camp was for 
ladies and the other for gentlemen. For beds 
we took a large quantity of spruce and hemlock 
boughs and laid them down — spread our blankets 
upon them, and this would make a healthy bed. 
To secure the ladies, we would make a blanket 
curtain in front of their camp, and they were 
entirely by themselves. Now the untiring mus- 
quitoe would sing to us constantly and every 
now and then would stop and taste a little. 
8* 



90 HISTORY OF THE 

I never knew a single person that ever took 
cold from these wild excursions. We frequently- 
received letters from invalids saying their healths 
were much improved by this visit with us. 

Now we were in trouble again, there being a 
complaint for want of a shed and more stable 
room. 

The winter of 1S26 being at hand, and a 
great deal to do, and after having done other 
necessary business, I went to hauling boards 
and shingles from the same short distance of 
twelve miles only, and this being up through 
the Notch. My father had put him up a new 
saw-mill, and I could get boards from them now 
better than from anywhere else, but it was some 
trouble to draw them up the Notch hills. Some 
perhaps think this a heavy job, but when a 
thing is undertaken in good earnest, it is soon 
over ; so with this job. In the spring I hired 
men and went to work and soon had timber pre- 
pared for a stable sixty feet by forty, and a shed 
to stand between the old stable and the new one, 
fifty feety by forty, which accommodated both 
stables, and the whole length of these buildings 
was nearly one hundred and fifty feet, in a 
straight line, facing the road. The outside of 
these buildings was nearly finished, when a stop 
was put to all business in consequence of the 
great rain, which you will soon find recorded. 

In June, as my father with a number of men 
was at work repairing the turnpike road through 
the Notch, there came on a heavy rain, and they 
were obliged to leave their work and retire to 
the house — then occupied by the worthy VVilley 



WHITK IVlOUNT^UiNS. 



91 



family, and it rained very hard. While there 
they saw on the west side of the road a small 
movement of rocks and earth coming down the 
hill, and it took all before it. They saw like- 
wise, whole trees coming down, standing up- 
right, for ten rods together, before they would 
tip over — the whole still moving slowly on, 
making its way until it had crossed the road, 
and then on a level surface some distance before it 
stopped. This grand and awful sight frightened 
the timid family very much, and Mrs. AVilley 
proposed to have the horses harnessed and go 
to my father's, but the old gentleman told her 
not to be alarmed, as he said they were mmch 
safer there than they would be in the road ; for, 
said he, there may be other difficulties in the way, 
like the one just described, or the swollen waters 
may have carried away some of the bridges, 
and they could not be crossed ; and after some 
reasoning with her in this way she was pacified 
and remain safely. The next day as the storm 
had abated, they set about removing the burden 
from the road, which required much trouble and 
labor. This seemed to be a warning as it ap- 
peared so to them. Mr. Willey had looked 
round and about the mountains and tried to find 
out a safer place than the one they then occu- 
pied ; and having satisfied himself, as he 
thought, placed a good tight cart-body in such a 
manner as would secure them from the weather 
in case a similar thing should occur — as visitors 
had advised them to leave the place, as they 
were anxious for their safety ; and he, it appear- 
ed, was fearful, or he would not have made this 



92 HISTORY OP THE 

effort-: but there is an overruling God who 
knows all things and caused all things to happen 
for the best, although w^e short-sighted mortals 
cannot comprehend them. Had they taken the 
advice of St. Paul and all abode in the ship, 
they might have been saved, but this was not to 
be their case — they were suffered to perish. 

August 26th, there came a party from the 
West to ascend the mountain, but as the wind 
had been blowing from the south for several 
days, I advised them not to go that afternoon, 
but they said their time was limited and they 
must proceed. Every thing necessary for the 
expedition being put in readiness, wc all, like so 
many good soldiers, with our staves in our hands, 
set forward at six o'clock and arrived at the 
camp at ten o'clock ; and I with my knife and 
flint struck fire, which caught in a piece of dry 
punk, which I carried for that purpose, and from 
that I could make a large fire. As this was the 
only way we had in" those days of obtaining fire, 
and after my performing the duties of a cook 
and house maid, we sat down in the humble sit- 
uation of Indians, not having the convenience of 
chairs, and told stories till the time for rest. 
The wind still continuing to blow from the south. 
In the morning, about four o'clock, it commenced 
raining, which prevented their hopes of ascend- 
ing the mountain that day, and not having pro- 
visions for another day, and they being unwilling 
now to give it up, when they had got so near, 
a meeting was called and it was unanimously 
agreed that I should go home and get new sup- 
plies and then return to them again. I obeyed 



WHITE ^.lOi;;\"iAlx^i^. ifJ 

their commands ; shouldered my empty pack, 
took my leave of them and then returned ; but 
as the rahi was falling so fast, and the mud col- 
lected about my feet, my progress was slow and 
wearisome. I at length got home, and being 
tired and my brother Thomas being there, I 
desired him to take my place, which he cheer- 
fully consented to do, and in a short time, he 
was laden and set forward, and when arriving at 
the camp, the party was holding a council as to 
what was to be done, for the rain had fallen so 
fast and steadily that it had entirely extinguished 
the fire. They consulted Thomas upon the 
matter to know if they had time to get in. He 
told them to remain there would be very unpleas- 
ant, as they must suffer with the wet and cold, 
not considering danger, but if they would go as 
fast as they could, they might reach the house ; 
each taking a little refreshment in his hands, and 
having the precaution to take the axe with them, 
set off in full speed, and w^ien they came to a 
swollen stream, which they could not ford, 
Thomas would, with his axe, fall a tree, for a 
bridge, and then they would walk over. They 
got along tolerably well until they came to a 
large branch, which came from the Notch, this 
was full and raging, and they had some difficulty 
to find a tree that would reach to the opposite 
bank, but at length succeeded in finding one, and 
they all got safely over, and those who could not 
walk, crawled along, holding on by the limbs, 
and when they came to the main stream, the 
water had risen and come into the road for sev- 
eral rods, and when they crossed the bridge it 



94 HISTORY OP TUB 

trembled under their feet. They all arrived 
ill safety about eight o'clock in the evening, when 
they were welcomed by two large fires to dry 
themselves. Here they took off' their wet gar- 
ments, and those that had not a change of their 
own, put on mine and went to bed, while we set 
up to dry theirs. At eleven o'clock we had a 
clearing up shower, and it seemed as though the 
windows of heaven were opened and the rain 
came down ahnost in streams ; it did not, how- 
ever, last long before it all cleared away and be- 
came a perfect calm. The next morning we 
were awakened by our little boy coming into the 
room, and saying, " father, the earth is nearly 
covered with water, and the hogs are swimming 
for life." I arose immediately and went to their 
rescue. I waded into the water and pulled away 
the fence, and they swam to land. What a 
sight ! The sun rose clear ; not a cloud nor a 
vapor was to be seen ; all was still and silent, 
excepting the rushing sound of the water, as it 
poured down the hills ! The whole intervale 
was covered with water a distance to be seen, of 
over two hundred acres of land, when standing 
on the little hill which has been named and call- 
ed Giant's Grave, just back of the stable, where 
the house used to stand that was burnt. After 
standing here a short time, I saw the fog arise 
in different places on the water, and it formed a 
beautiful sight. The bridge which had so lately 
been crossed had come down and taken w^ith it 
ninety feet of shed which was attached to the 
barn that escaped the fire in 1818. Fourteen 
sheep that were under it were drowned, and 



WHITS MOUNTAINS. 95 

those which escaped looked as though they had 
been washed in a mud puddle. The water came 
within eighteen inches of the door in the house 
and a strong current was running between the 
house and stable. It came up under the shed 
and underneath the new stable, and carried 
away timber and wood — passed by the west 
corner of the house and moved a wagon which 
stood in its course. Now the safety of my father 
and of the Willey family occupied our minds — 
but there was no way to find out their situation. 
At or near^the middle of the day (Tuesday) 
there came a traveller on foot who was desirous 
of going down the Notch that night, as he said 
his business was urgent, and he must if possible 
go through. I told him to be patient as the 
water was then falling fast, and as soon as it 
should fall and I could swim a horse, I would 
carry him over the river. Owing to the narrow- 
ness of the intervales between the mountains 
here, when it begins to fall, dreans soon away, 
and at four o'clock, I mounted a large strong 
horse, took the traveller on behind, and swam 
the river, and landed him safely on the other 
side and returned. He made the best of his 
way down to the Notch house and arrived there 
just before dark. He found the house deserted 
of every living creature, excepting the faithful 
dog, and he w^as unwilling at first to admit the 
stranger. He at length became friendly and 
acquainted. On going to the barn he found it 
had been touched by an avalanche and fallen in. 
The two horses that were in it were both killed, 
and the oxen confined under the broken timber 



96 HISTORY OF THE 

tied in their stalls. These he set at liberty after 
tinding an axe and cutting away the timber : 
they were lame, but soon got over it. What 
must have been the feelings of this lonely trav- 
eller while occupying this deserted house — find- 
ing doors opened and bed and clothes as though 
they had been left in a hurry ; bible open and 
laying on the table as it seemed it had lately 
been read. He went round the house, and pre- 
pared for himself a supper, and partook of it 
alone, except the company of the dog, who 
seemed hungry like himself — then quietly laid 
down in one of these open deserted beds, and 
consoled himself by thinking the family had 
made their escape and gone down to my father's. 
Early the next morning he proceeded on his 
way and he had some difficultv in getting across 
some places, as the earth and water were mixed 
together and made a complete quagmire. He 
succeeded in getting to father's ; but could ob- 
tain no information of the unfortunate family. 
He told this story as he went down through 
Bartlett and Conway, and the news soon spread. 
On Wednesday the waters had subsided so 
much that we could ford the Amanoosuc river 
with a horse and wagon ; and some of the time- 
limited party agreed to try the ground over 
again ; and they, with the addition of another 
small party who came from the West on Tues- 
day, and Thomas for guide, again set out, while 
I with a gentleman from Connecticut, went to- 
wards the Notch. After travelling a distance of 
two miles in a wagon, we were obliged to leave 
it and take to our feet. We now found the road 



WHITE MOUNTAINS. 97 

in some places entirely demolished, and seem- 
ingly, on a level surface ; a crossway which had 
been laid down for many years and firmly cov- 
ered with dirt — that to the eye cf human reason 
it would be impossible to move — taken up, and 
every log had been disturbed and laid in different 
directions. On going still a little farther, we 
found a gulf in the middle of the road, in some 
places ten feet deep, and twenty rods in length. 
The rest of the road — my pen would fail should 
I attempt to describe it — suffice it to say, I could 
hardly believe my own eyes, the water having 
made such destruction. Now, when within a 
short distance of the house, found the cows with 
their bags filled with milk, and from their ap- 
pearance, they had not been milked for some 
days. My heart sickened as I thought what had 
happened to the inmates of the house. We 
went in and there found no living person — and 
the house in the situation just described. I was 
going down to my father's to seek them out, but 
the gentleman with me would not let me go, for 
he said he could not find his way back alone, 
and I must return with him. We set out and ar- 
rived home at four o'clock in the afternoon. 

I could not be satisfied about the absent family, 
and again returned, and when I got back to the 
house found a number of the neighbors had as- 
sembled and no information concerning them 
could be obtained, and my feelings were such 
that 1 could not remain there during the night, 
although a younger brother of mine, being one 
of the company, almost laid violent hands upon 
me to compel me to stay, fearing some accident 
9 



yo HISTORY OF THE 

might befall me, as I should have to feel my way 

through the Notch on my hands and knees, for 
the water had in the narrowest place in the 
Notch, taken out the rocks which had been beat 
in from the ledge above, to make the road and 
carried them into the gulf below, and made a 
hole or gulf twenty feet deep, and it was diffi- 
cult, if not dangerous, to get through in the 
night — as all those who visited this scene of 
desolation will bear testimony to ; but my mind 
was fixed and unchangeable, and I would not be 
prevailed on to stay. I started and groped my 
way home in the dark, where I arrived at ten 
o'clock in the evening. Here I found that the 
party from the mountain had arrived ; as they 
had nowhere to stay, they were obliged to come 
in that night. Now we began to relate our dis- 
coveries. They had much difficulty in finding 
their way, as the water had made as bad work 
with their path as it had done with the road, in 
proportion to its length. The water had risen 
and carried away every particle of the camp 
and all my furniture there. The party seemed 
thankful that they, on Monday, had made their 
escape. What must have been their fortune had 
they remained there ? They must have shared 
the same fate the Willey family did, or suffered 
a great deal with fear, wet, cold and hunger, for 
it would have been impossible for them to have 
come in until Wednesday, and their provisions 
must have been all gone, if not lost, on Monday 
night. It seemed really a Providential thing in 
their being saved. No part of the iron chest 
was ever found, or any thing it contained, ex- 



WUITK MOUNTAINS. 99 

ccplhig a few pieces of blanket that were caught 
oil bushes m different places down the river. 

The next morning our friends, with gratitude, 
left us ; and we had the same grateful feelings 
towards them, wishing each other good luck. 

The same day (Thursday) before I had time 
to look about me and learn the situation of my 
farm, and estimate the loss I had sustained, the 
friends of the Willey family had come up to the 
deserted house and sent for me. At first I said 
I could not go down, but being advised to, I 
went. When I got there, on seeing the friends 
of that well-beloved family, and having been 
acquainted with them for many years, my heart 
was full and my tongue refused utterance, and I 
could not for a considerable length of time speak 
to one of them, and could only express my re- 
gards I had to them in pressing their hands — but 
gave full vent to tears. This was the second 
time my eyes were wet with tears since grown 
to manhood. The other time was when my 
family was in that destitute situation. Diligent 
search being made for them, and no traces to be 
found until night, the attention of the people 
was attracted by the flies, as they were passing 
and repassing underneath a large pile of flood- 
wood. They now began to hall away the rub- 
bish, and at length, found Mr. and Mrs. Willey, 
Mr. Allen, the hired man, and the youngest 
child, not far distant from each other. These 
were taken up, broken and mangled, as must 
naturally be expected, and were placed in cof- 
fins ; and the next day they were interred, on a 
piece of ground near the house, and there to 



100 IIISTOKY OF TH£ 

remain until winter. Saturday, the other hired 
man was found and interred ; and on Sunday, 
the eldest daughter was found, some way from 
where the others were, across the river ; and it 
was said her countenance was fair and pleasant ; 
not a hruise or a mark was discovered upon her. 
It was supposed she was drowned. She had 
only a liandkerchief around her waist — supposed 
for the purpose of having some one to lead her 
by. This girl was not far from twelve years of 
age. She had acquired a good education, con- 
sidering her advantages, and she seemed more 
like a gentleman's daugli^er, of fashion and af- 
fluence, than the daughter of one who had locat- 
ed himself in the midst of the mountains. It is 
said the earliest flowers are the soonest plucked, 
and this seemed to be the case with this young, 
interesting family ; the rest of the children were 
not inferior to the eldest, considering their age. 
In this singular act of Providence, there wero 
nine taken from time into eternity — four adult 
persons and five children. It should remind 
us, we who are living, to " be also ready, for 
in such an hour as ye think not, the Son of Man 
cometh." It was a providential thing, said Zara 
Cutler, Esq., who was present afterwards, that 
the house itself was saved, so near came the 
overwhelmning avalanch. The length of the 
slides are several miles down the side of the 
mountain. The other three children, one a 
daughter, and the other two sons, have never to 
this day been found ; not even a bone has ever 
been picked up or discovered. It is supposed 
they must have been buried deei), underneath 
an averlunch. 



WHITE xMOUNTAINS. 101 

Mr. and Mrs. Willcy sustained good and re- 
spectable characters, and were in good standing 
among the Christians in Conway, where they be- 
longed. They were remarkable for their chari- 
ties and kindness towards others, and command- 
ed the respect of travellers and all who knew 
them. Much more could be said in their favor, 
but it would be superfluous to add. Suffice it to 
remark that the whole intention of their lives 
was to live humbly, walk uprightly, deal justly 
with all, speak evil of none. 

Then came a large slide down back of the 
house in a direction to take the house with it, 
and when within ten or fifteen rods of the house 
it came against a solid ledge of rock and here 
stopped and separated, one on either side of the 
house, taking the stable on one side, and the 
family on the other — or they might have got to 
the rendesvous ; but there is no certainty which 
of these divisions overtook them, as they were 
hurried partly by the three slides which had 
come together eighty rods from the house ; the 
two that separated back of the house here met, 
and a still larger one had come down in the 
place where Mr. Willey had hunted out a refuge 
for safety. When "the slide was coming down 
and separating, it had great quantities of timber 
with it ; one log, sLx feet long, and two feet 
tlirough, still kept its course, and came within 
three feet of the house ; but fortunately it was 
stopped by coming against a brick, where it 
rested ; the ends of trees were torn up, and 
looked similar to an old peeled birch broom. — 
The whole vallev, which was once covered with 
9*" 



102 HISTORY OF THE 

beautiful green gi'ass, was now a complete quag- 
mire, exhibiting nothing but ruins of the moun- 
tains, heaps of timber, large rocks, sand and 
gravel. All was dismal and desolate. For a 
monument, I wrote with a piece of red chalk, 
On a plained board, this inscription : 

The Family found here. 

I nailed it to a dead tree, v/hich was standing 
near the place where they were found ; but 
since it has been taken away by some of the oc- 
cupants of the house and used for fuel. 

But to return to my own affairs at home : — 
Fences mostly gone — farm in some places cov- 
ered so deeply with sand and gravel that it was 
ruined ; and, on the intervale, was piled in great 
and immense quantities, floodwood, in different 
places all over it. The bridge now lay in pieces 
all around the meadow, and the • shed also ; 
there was a large field of oats, just ready to 
harvest, from which I think I would have had 
four or six hundred bushels — these were destroy- 
ed ; and some hay in the field was destroyed. — 
My actual loss at this time was more than one 
thousand dollars ; and truly things looked rather 
unfavorable. After the fire, we had worked 
hard and economised closely to live and pay 
our former dues, which we made slow progress 
in ; as it was necessary for the benefit of the 
public, I had to buy so many things, which we 
could not get along without, I could do but little 
towards taking up my old notes, but still I must 
persevere, and keep doing while the day lasted ; 
and I thought no man would be punished for be- 



WHITE MOUNTAINS. 



103 



iiig unfortunate. Therefore, taking these things 
into consideration, I would still continue to do the 
best I could and trust the event. My father suf^ 
fered still more than myself. The best part of 
his farm was entirely destroyed. A new saw 
mill which he had just put up, and a great num- 
ber of logs and boards, were swept away to- 
crether into the sand ; fences on the intervale 
were all gone ; twenty-eight sheep were drown 
ed, and considerable grain which was in the field 
was swept away. The water rose on the out- 
side of the house twenty-two inches, and ran 
through the whole house on the lower floors, 
and swept out the coals and ashes from the 
fire place. They had lighted candles which 
were placed in the windows, and my mother 
took down a pole which she used as a clothes 
pole, and stood at a wmdow near the corner of 
the house, when the current run swift, and 
would push away the timber and other stuff that 
came down against the house, to keep it from 
collecting in a great body, as she thought it 
might jam up and sweep away the house ; for 
the water was rising fast. And while thus en- 
gaged, she was distressed by the cries of the 
poor bleating and drowning sheep that would 
pass by in the flood, and seemed to cry for help, 
but none could be afforded. 

My father at this time was from home, and 
but few of the family were there, so they made 
the best they could of it. This came on so sud- 
den and unexpected that almost every thing in 
the cellar was ruined, and a part of the wall fell 
in. 



104 HISTORY OF THE 

This loss of my father's property, which ho 
had accumulated only by the sweat of his brow, 
was so great that he will never be likely to re- 
gain it. Many suffered more or less who lived 
on this wild and uncultivated stream, as far as 
Saco. 

We had now a difficulty which seemed almost 
insurmountable. The road in many places was 
entirely gone ; the bridges, the whole length of 
the turnpike, excepting two, a distance of seven- 
teen miles, gone ; the directors came and looked 
at it, and found it would take a large sum to re- 
pair it. The good people of Portland, however, 
to encourage us, raised fifteen hundred dollars 
to help us with ; it was put into the hands of 
Nathan Kinsman, Esq. to see it well laid out. 
The Directors voted to raise an assessment on 
the shares, to make up the balance ; and that, 
with some other assistance, was divided into jobs 
and let out, and we all went to work ; and, as it 
was said, the sun shone so short a time in this 
Notch, that the hardy New Hampshire boys 
made up their hours by moonlight. 



CHAPTER IX. 

\Vc got along much better with this work than 
we expected. We were favored with good 
weather, and had a decent sleigh path for the 
winter. This great and wonderful catastrophe, 
?vhich happened among the mountains, caused 
a great many this fall to visit the place. Among 
others there came two gentlemen for the pur- 
pose of going up to the mountain and visiting 
the slides, to ascertain the qualities of naked 
mountains, as they were in search of minerals. 
We found on the west side of Mount Pleasant, 
the largest slide ; it appeared one thousand acres 
in dimension had slide off and rested in the val- 
ley below. W^e wandered about, looking at the 
wonderful works of God, until night overtook 
us, and then on a ridge of the hill, near the 
Amanoosuc, by the side of a large pile of flood- 
wood, I built a camp, or wigwam, which was 
sufficiently large for us then. I cut my wood, 
struck a fire, and we each took our blanket and 
retired to rest. As might be expected, the night 
at this season of the year was long and cold ; a 
thick mist of rain came on, and our quarters be- 
ing small they complained of the cold and want 
of room. I arose, renewed my fire, and spread 
my blanket on them, and retired, myself, to a 
thick fur tree, under whose boughs I took shelter 
and soon fell asleep ; being very tired, and now 



106 niSTORY OF THE 

having plenty of room, and feeling my compan- 
ions were more comfortable, I slept till morning. 
When I returned to my companions they were 
gladdened to see the light of another day. I 
iiave been over and around the mountains in al- 
most every direction with botanists and with 
minerologists. I have been up and down all the 
slides of any magnitude, and have taken pains 
to find out if there were any minerals of value 
there, but have never as yet found any of con- 
sequence. 

It has been supposed by some that there were 
valuable mines some where about the moun- 
tains. I have searched for these also, but found 
none. I recollect a number of years ago, 
when quite a boy, some persons had l)cen up on 
the hills and said they had found a golden treas- 
ure, or carbuncle, which they said was under a 
large shelving rock, and would be difficult to ob- 
tain, for they might fall and be dashed to pieces. 
Moreover they thought it was guarded by an 
evil spirit, supposing that it had been placed 
there by the Indians, and that they had killed 
one of their number and left him to guard the 
treasure, which some credulous, superstitious 
persons believed, and they got my father to en- 
gage to go and search for it ; provided them- 
selves with every thing necessary for the busi- 
ness and a sufficient number of good men and a 
minister well qualified to lay the evil spirit, 
they set out in good earnest and high spirits antic 
ipating with pleasure how rich they should be in 
coming home laden with gold ; that is, if they 
should have the good luck to find it. They set 



WHITB MOUNTAINS. 107 

out and went up Dry river, and Imd hard work 
to find their way through the thickets and over 
the hills, where they made diligent search for a 
number of days, with some of the former men 
spoken of for guides, but they could not find the 
place again, or anything that seemed to be Hke 
it, until worn out with fatigue and disappoint- 
ment, they returned ; and never since, to my 
knowledge, has any one found that wonderful 
place again, or been troubled with the mountain 
spirit. 

I have heard it said by the people of Ports- 
mouth, that when children were at play and 
happened to fall out with each other, the worst 
punishment they could inflict upon their mates 
was to Avish them up to the White Hills, as that 
was' considered the worst place in the world by 
them. Perhaps their minds had been affected 
by the story of Nancy, who perished in the 
woods in attempting to follow her lover. She 
had been at work in Jefferson for Colonel Whip- 
ple, wdien the heart of this honest girl was won 
by a servant of his ; and as he was going in the 
fall to Portsmouth, he promised to take her along 
with him, and after they should arrive there, he 
would make her his wife. She was honest her- 
self and thought him to be also ; and he had 
contrived every means to please her in all their 
domestic concerns which they were engaged in, 
while under the control of the Colonel, and she 
had entrusted him with her money, which had 
been paid her for her labor, and she went to 
Lancaster to make preparations for the intended 
journey ; while she was preparing, her lover 



108 HISTORY OF THE 

went away with the Colonel and left her behind. 
She was immediately informed of his treachery, 
and w'as determined to pursue him. There had 
been a deep snow and there was no road — noth- 
ing but spotted trees, besides the tracks of the 
Colonel and her false lover to follow. When 
she arrived at Jefferson she was wet with snow 
which had collected upon her clothes, and was 
wearied. The men that were there tried to per- 
suade her not to go any farther, setting forth the 
many difficulties she would have to - encounter, 
and' likewise the danger she would be exposed 
to in such an undertaking, through a howling 
wilderness of thirty miles, without fire or food. 
All these entreaties did not move her, or alter 
her determination ; for such was her love either 
for the man whom she had placed her affections 
upon, or the money she had placed in his hands, 
that she was inflexible ; and having a great opin- 
ion of her owai ability, in her immagination she 
thought as they had only been gone some hours, 
and would probably go no further than the 
Notch that night, and would probably camp 
there, she might, by travelling all night, over- 
take them before they started in the morning. — 
In this she was disappointed ; they had left be- 
fore she arrived ; but from every appearance 
the fire had not gone out. It may be inquired 
how it was known that the fire had not gone 
out there .? When a fire is made in the woods, 
it is made of very large wood, cut and rolled 
together, and them left to burn, as was evidently 
the case here, and there will be brands left at 
each end of the fire. These brands she had 
put together, and they burnt out as the ashes 



WHITE MOUJiTAi:SS. 



10^ 



plainly showed for themselves when the men 
found them. She was tired and worn out with 
fatigue and hunger, having taken nothing with 
her to eat on the v/ay. Yet her passion was not 
abated, and she still persevered, thinking she 
should overtake them. She went on and got a 
distance of twenty-two miles, when the men 
thinking she was in earnest, followed her.— - 
When she set off in the afternoon, they thought 
she would not go far before she would come 
back, and they waited until late in the evening, 
expecting every moment to hear the sound of 
her footsteps at the door ; but in vain did they 
imagine this. They pressed on and found the 
fire in the situation just described, which made 
them think she found fire to warm her benumbed 
limbs. Here they rested only a short time and 
tlien proceeded and found her just after crossing 
a brook, in a sitting position, with her clothes 
frozen upon her — -having wet them while cross- 
ing the brook, and her head was resting on her 
hand and cane which had been her support 
through the woods, and she was frozen to deatli. 
This place is near my father's, and has ever 
since, from that circumstance, borne the name of 
Nancy's Brook, and Nancy's Hill. 

♦' Now in this VDlume let me build a tomb 
For Nancy, love's sweet victim, in her bloom. 
Her tragic end, though awful to relate, 
Shows how true love controls a Woman's fate ! 
Oh ! had she early given her heart to God, 
Perhaps she had not felt the chastening rod. 
But let U3 trust her sins are all forgiven, 
And with her Saviour, that she rests in Heaven.*' 

[J. C. N. I. 
10 



110 HISTORY 0^ THE WHITE MOUNTAINS. 

The reader would perhaps like to know what 
became of her lover. Shortly after hearing of 
this, his own conscience was smitten and he be- 
came frantic and insane, and was put into the 
hospital, where he in a few months after, died 
in a most horrible condition. This is a true story, 
as I have heard it told by those who were know- 
ing to the facts, as related in the above statements 



CHAPTER X. 

October 14th, there came a gentleman from 
Crermany to ascend the mountains. I provided 
him with a good guide, and they set out early in 
the morning, knowing they must return that 
evenino;, as there was no place for them to stay 
on their way over night. I waited for their re- 
turn until nine o'clock in the evening, and feel- 
ing anxious for them, fearing they might be lost, 
as there had come down in the flood a large 
-quantity of timber and flUed up the path, so that 
it was difficult of finding it, not far from the en- 
trance of the woods ; and I did not know but 
they might be lost in this place, as it would be 
dark before they could arrive there ; and well 
knowing the night must be long, cold and tedi- 
ous, in their destitute situation, I took a lantern 
and my long tin horn, mounted a horse and pro- 
ceeded to the woods, where I alighted and then 
•commenced blowing the horn, and it was soon 
answered by the guide. I took my light and 
steered towards the sound of his voice ; there I 
found them completely lost — not more than .a 
quarter of a mile from the open ground. — 
AVhen they came here it was dark and the guide 
had been there many times before this, and 
knew the way well, yet the darkness bewildered 
him so much that it was in vain he tried to get 
■out, and when satisfied he could not, ho groped 



113 BIITORY OF THB 

his way about in the dark, and had broken somtj 
boughs to lie down upon, without a blanket, and 
no other covering than the canopy of Heaven to 
cover them ; destitute of food, and not hav- 
ing the means of making a fire, they had made 
up their minds to spend tne night in this nncom« 
fortable situation, when the joyful sound of the 
horn caught their ears. I soon put them in a 
way to get liberated from this place, and when 
they came to the horse, I helped the gentleman 
on his back, and then we all came home ; and a 
more grateful man than this I scarce ever saw. 
When arrived at the house, and finding his situ- 
ation changed from that cold and lonesome one 
to a good warm fire and supper, and then the 
expectation of a good bed, it almost overcame 
hinri. 

The winter of 1827, I spent much like the 
former winter seasons ; buying and laying in a 
still larger share of provisions than usual, for 
the benefit of those who should need while at 
work on the road, and for the purpose of assist- 
ing the weary traveller through the deep snows, 
and over our rough roads. 

In the spring I went to work on my mountain 
road, as soon as the ground would permit, and I 
made a road suitable for a carriage a distance of 
one and a half miles into the woods. We could 
now ride in a carriage from my house, three 
miles, and our custom was at that time, to carry 
visitors to the end of the road, and then return 
with the carriage, and leave them to try their 
own strength from there up and back, and then 
w© would be ready there on their return, to bring 



WHITJE MOUNTAINS. 113 

tiiem home again. I had intended to work on 
this road every year, when I could, until I should 
have completed it to the foot of Mt. Washington. 
After reading the description given by Dr. 
Park, and the other parly of ladies, shortly after 
their return, and finding their opinion was that it 
could not be exactly fitting that ladies should at- 
tempt such an arduous undertaking, all the ladies 
that visited the mountain were more willing to 
give up the idea of the ascent, although they 
had as much curiosity to view and contemplate 
things not made with hands ; and still they, in 
general, possess an ambition to excel and attain 
to such noble and romantic acts, for some energy 
both of body and mind is required to perform 
such an enterprise ; and there had never been 
but four parties of ladies up the mountain since 
I had come here to live, now ten years past, and 
I had promised the ladies that whenever I could 
make a road suhable for them to ride a part or 
all of the way to the foot of the hill, I would 
never, in good weather, discourage them from 
going there, but I would go with them myself, 
and assist them wherever it was necessary. I 
had made a road to ride on part of the way, and 
ladies began to take me to my word, and they 
this summer began to ascend the mountain a- 
gain, and whenever we had more compan}^ than 
what belonged to any particular party, I would 
furnish them with another guide, so that they 
should not be troubled or hindered in the least 
They might go with us or by themselves, just aa 
the parties chose, and I spent this summer in 
going up and down the mountain with mv friends, 
10* 



«i4 



BISTORY OF TKB 



find visiting the Notch and the desolate Willey 
House, and in giving them as good an account of 
what took place on that memorable night of tho 
second of August last, and answering all their 
enquiries as promptly and correctly as my hum^ 
ble capacity and judgment would allow me to do. 
It now became needful for the benefit of the 
company, as it increased, to have an establish- 
ment at the top of the Notch, as many wanted 
to stop here and leave their horses, and pursuot 
their way down the hill on foot, and view the 
cascades as they come majestically down tho 
hill, and over the rocks, and form such a beauti- 
ful silvery sight. The flume, likewise, that is 
curiously cut out by Nature through a solid rock, 
the avalanches, and then the Willey House, &;c, 
and on their return they needed refreshment. 
Now having a disposition to accommodate the 
public, and feeling a little self-pride, to have 
another Crawford settled here, to make up a 
road, I consulted with my father, and we agreed 
to build there and place a brother of mine in the 
house. We accordingly made a plan upon the 
test and most convenient construction we could 
invent, and in the fall, prepared timber for a 
frame, 120 fieet in length, and 36 feet in width : 
just as we were about to raise this, the snow fell 
so deeply that we were obliged to give it up for 
the present time. 

I think that it was this fall that a man from 
Falmouth had been to Lancaster and bought 
some fat sheep and oxen : he had a team of hor- 
ses and a wagon, and on his way home as he was 
coming over Cherry Mountain, it had begun to 



WHITfi MOUr«TAINS, 115 

snow : he arrived at my house, where he put up 
for the night, and it continued to snow until it 
had fallen two feet, and over : here he stayed 
until it cleared away, and then he could not trav- 
el with his sheep, the snow was so deep. I then, 
with him, began to contrive means to help him 
^.long. We harnessed his horses, and put them 
to a wagon, the oxen on forward of them ; but 
this did not make a path sufficient for the sheep 
to go in ; I then harnessed a horse and drove a 
wedge into a short, large, round log, and put a 
chain around this wedge, and led my horse, and 
this log made a complete road for them to go in, 
single file, and in this way, w^e got along quite 
weU down into the Notch, a little way, when the 
snow became thin : then he could go without my 
assistance. I then left my log, mounted my 
horse, and returned home, while the traveller 
pursued his journey, without suffering much in* 
convenience from the snow. It was no uncom- 
mon thing for us to have two feet of snow, while, 
in Bartlett, they would not have more than two 
inches ; as we lived so high in the air, and the 
mountains generally attract or hinder the storms, 
we have snow, while others, who live not more 
than twenty miles distant have rain and some- 
times sunshine ; such is the variableness of the 
weather where we then lived, still in the sum- 
mer we generally had a good share of good and 
clear weather, but Spring and Fall was the time 
when we had most of these sudden changes. 
Uncle William says, that in former days, when 
they first went there to live, the snow would 
sometimes be ten feet deep, and he has seen ths 



116 HISTORY OF THE 

time, when they could drive a team of oxen and 
horses any where in the field, on the crust, over 
stumps and fences, and draw their wood homo 
from any place they chose, w^ierever they could 
best get it, as this hard crust made a smooth sur- 
face for them to go on : had it not been for this, 
they could not have got along where they did, 
because it was rough and stumpy, and from such 
Uttle circumstances it seems that there is nothing 
made in vain. I have seen the snow so deep 
when 1 lived there, that it was difficult to pass 
each other with teams, when they met, until they 
would have to stamp down the snow, and make a 
patii for one of them to get out, and then some- 
times they would have to unhitch their horses 
and compel them to turn out, such was the depth 
of snow ; and where there was a crust of it, it 
was still more difficult. At one time when I was 
coming home from Portland, with a loaded sleigh, 
when I got up so far as my father's, it was snow- 
ing, and there I baited my horses, and intending 
to have come home that night, I came on as far 
as the Notch-House, and there hired a man to 
help me up the hill, wdth two horses ; we came 
on part of the way, and the snow had got so 
deep, that his horses would not work and we 
were obliged to leave the sleigh and return to 
the house ; by the way I had the precaution, to 
put the tongue of the sleigh upwards, and the 
next morning when I came to where I had left 
the sleigh, all that I could discover of it, was the 
tongue : this stood upright : the rest of it w^as 
entirely covered with the snow, and it was 
then utterly impossible for me to take it along 



WfilTB MOUNTAINl. 117 

with me, and I there left it, and a man happened 
to be with me, one who had stayed with me the 
preceding night, who was on his way to Ver* 
mont, with an empty single sleigh and a good 
horse. One of my horses I put on forward of 
his, and I and the other horse made a track for 
them to follow : we worked hard half a day, to 
get six miles ; such was the quantity of snow 
which had fallen in a few hours. Other descrip- 
tions I could give similar to this, but I do not 
wish to tire the patience of the reader, with more 
than what is necessary, to show the difterence 
between the climate we lived in, and other cli- 
mates not far from us, and what difficulties and 
hardships we had to encounter in this region ; but 
in later years, for some cause, we have not had 
such quantities of snow, and have not been much 
troubled with its depth, but many times for the 
want of it. 

In the winter, in the beginning of the year 
1828, we went to work and bought lumber, and 
had it drawn a distance of seventeen and a half 
miles. I bought my brick, and had them to 
haul twenty -two miles, which kept us busy 
through the winter, v/ith what other work we 
had to do. In the spring we collected men and 
raised these buildings. I hired two joiners, and 
they went to work on them. 

In June, I again worked on my Mountain road^ 
and then made it passable for a carriage, with 
what I had done the year before, a distance from 
my house of about six miles, on which I could 
carry in a wagon, with two stout horses.^ 
seven passengers at & time, and this ma,d^ it 



118 HISTORY OF THE 

much easier for the traveller : for ladies could go 
up much easier than they could go at any other 
time before. They went oftener, and I spent 
the most of this summer in ascending the moun- 
tain, with my friends at the house, and in fishing 
and hunting with them as much as they chose, 
and bestowing every act of kindness on them 
which r was capable of doing. The joiners, 
with what other assistance we could afford them, 
had the outside of these buildings finished and 
the inside so much done that it was comfortable 
for the winter. We were still at work, when on 
the 2d day of September we were again visited 
by a heavy rain, which was as great as the one 
we had two years before. The water in some 
places on the Amanoosuc, where the mountains 
came near together, was higher than in the for- 
mer freshet. On the Saco, it w^as not so high, 
yet the other freshet had made the channel of 
tlie river so wide, that the water flood could pass 
without being dammed up, or stopped in places, 
,as it had been in the former one, therefore it did 
not occasion so much damage, but passed majes- 
tically along, taking only what lay in its course. 
The bridges which had so lately been built anew, 
were mostly taken from their places and moved 
away, but not so far but that some of them could 
be brought back and put in their former places 
a^ain. The road was in many places entirely 
destroyed. This put an end to all our business, 
at present, as we did not know what could be the 
result of this. The joiners packed up their tools 
and left them and went home, and I was at thia 
time transporting the United States Mail, from 



WHITE MOUNTAINS. 119 

Conway to Littleton, twice in each week ; and it 
being impossible to go with a horse, we carried 
it regularly, on our backs, without losing more 
than one single trip, to the satisfaction of our 
friends and employer. The Directors of the 
Turnkpike came and looked over the road again, 
and they found it would take a large sum to re- 
pair it, and make it passable, for the winter, and 
they refused by saying that the corporation was 
not able then to do it, but must have help from 
some other quarter, as they knew no other way 
for the Crawfords than that they must remain 
shut up by themselves, as they could not then 
make another road there. This did not exactly 
correspond with my feelings, to be entirely shut 
up without any communication with our southern 
neighbors, and not have the privilege of getting 
provisions, and other necessary things for my 
family. I then concluded I would try my own 
luck, and see what I could effect myself. I set 
out in good earnest, and took a piece of paper, 
and a man of judgment with me, and went down 
through the whole length of the road, and made 
an estimate of what I thought it would cost to 
repair it again ; consulted with my father upon 
the matter, to know what was best to be done. 
I then took my estimate and went down to Port- 
land, and saw where the principal proprietors of 
the road lived. On my way there I called on 
one of the Directors and took from him a letter 
directed to one of the principal proprietors and 
owners, to this purport, saying that the Crawfords 
were doing a little on the road, but could not ef- 
fect much, and we as a corporation, have con- 



i20 frlSTOET OF iSS, 

eluded we cannot do any thing, at present, on the 
road, but must let it remain in the same condi- 
tion for the winter^ After having this letter read, 
and showing him what I thought it would cost to 
make it again, this proprietor then gave me a 
power of Attorney, to act on his shares, and 
likewise others did, untiLI had enough to rule 
the meeting, which it was then my whole busi- 
ness to effect. On my way home, I bought two 
yoke of oxen, hired men and set them to work 
on the roadi The first Wednesday in October 
was the time for the annual meeting of the cor- 
poration of the turnpike, to adjust their business. 
When they had transacted their regular affairs, 
it was ihen put to vote to know whether there 
should be an assessment raised to repair the road. 
There were some against mfe, but I liad the pow- 
er in my hands and I could rule them just as I 
pleased. I then, with the advice of my father, 
voted to raise an assessment on the shares, and 
that, with what other assistance we had from 
Vermont, and the adjoining towns around, was 
sufficient. We divided the broken places into 
jobs, and let it out to different men, to make, sim- 
ilar to Ihe way we had done in former times, and 
we had a tolerable sleigh path again for the win- 
ter. I went to Danville Bank, and hired $300, 
to pay off the men, and for other expenses, and 
after spending a sum of 8400 more, I was oblig- 
ed to live without this money for nearly four 
years, with no interest, and could not get h, until 
it was collected from the benefit of the road. 
Such was my reward for persevering and mak- 
ing the road contrary to the opinion of the Di- 



TTHltE MOUNTAINS. 1^1 

rectors, yet I could hot chafge tliem with ih© 
fault, for they did not wish to have it done, until 
Congress could assist^ or some other means could 
be devised to help them ; hut it was done and I 
did not feel sorry for it, although my prospect? 
v^uffered ; still, as it was for the benefit of the 
people, and I had done it for the general or p\Jih-> 
lie good, I did not mind it so much, as I would 
have done, had I done it from any selfish motive.- 
But to return again to my own affairs at home ; it 
field of grain which v/as partly cut, and still stand- 
ing in the shocks, was swept away. As the chan- 
nel of the river had been made wider in the for- 
mer flood, it did not bring so much timber as at 
the other time, yet great quantities of sand and 
gravel were brought on to my intervale, and the 
bridge and fences upon it, were again carried 
away, and thus was my mountain road again de* 
stroyed. My loss of property was then consid- 
erable, but 1 did not make an ex^ct estimate of it 
at that time, as there does not seem to be much 
consolation in counting up one loss upon another. 
My affairs looked gloomy, and I felt dmost dis- 
couraged, as one misfortune kept following anoth- 
er, and I could not tell where my troubles would 
end. But in those times of trouble, Lucy was al- 
ways calm and unruffled, whenever she thought 
they proceeded from the hand of God. She re- 
ceived things differently from myself; seldom if 
ever did she complain for the want of any thing ; 
but to know how to bring up our children, in the 
right way, as they then began to be numerous, 
she would say there was still more work for us 
to do. 

11 



122 HISTORY or THE 

This Fall a large number of men were at work 
on the road down through the Notch, and among 
them was a young man that was sub'ect to a kind 
of fits, which would take him suddenly, and 
sometimes, when he was not aware of it. These 
fits did not hinder him from laboring, though, in 
some measure they afiected his mind, and so 
much so, that they always looked after him, and 
generally kept with, or near him, in order that 
no accident should befal him. When he had one 
of these turns, as he had worked hard through 
the day, at night, he was tired, and in the evening, 
showed some signs of wildness, which had been 
noticed by some of his companions, and his fa- 
ther was then with him, but the young man did 
not wish to sleep with his father that night, but 
slept with another man. Sometime in the night, 
as it appears, he was thirsty, and wanted some 
drink, he got up and came down stairs, unnoticed 
by the rest of the company, went out of doors, 
and it seemed that he lay down to drink out of a 
small stream of water which then crossed the 
road near the house, and while in the act of 
drinking, he was taken with a fit, as it was sup- 
posed, from every appearance, for in the morn- 
ing when the men awaked and came down, and 
went out of doors, they found him, lying dead and 
stiff", with his face in the water. How long he 
had lain there, they could not tell. He was 
taken up and conveyed into the house, where a 
rough coffin was prepared for him. My brother 
Thomas being there, came to my house and got 
a horse and waggon, and he was carried home, 
followed by his father, to JeflTerson, the place of 



WHITE MOUNTAms. 123 

his nativity, to his friends and connections, thera 
to be interred. Here again we had an evidence 
of the uncertainty of life, and the importance of 
being prepared to meet death, let it come in 
whatever shape it might come. This was a great 
grief to his friends, they were in rather low cir- 
cumstances, and depended upon him for his la- 
bor, to help them support an aged mother who 
had been blind for twenty years ; the first female 
settler in Jefferson, and I think her blindness was 
caused by a shock from lightning, which 'had 
affected her eyes, and they could not restore her 
sight, although some skilful physicians had tried. 
She lived to be almost one hundred years old. 

I went to Portland and bought furniture for my 
new establishment, and supplied it with provis- 
ions, and January, 1829, my brother Thomas 
married and moved in and took charge of my 
new stand. It being a new thing, and so con- 
venient and accommodating, he had a great 
share of the winter company. It was thought 
that this would make a great place of resort for 
those who would decline the more arduous un- 
dertaking of ascending Mount Washington, for 
just behind the house was the path which we first 
made to ascend the hills, and a good way might 
be found, one that could be made fit to ride in, 
on horseback, by taking a zigzag course, from 
one side of the hill to the other, which would only 
make the distance a little further, but would make 
the ascent much easier, and then the eye of the 
curious might be almost satisfied from the sub- 
lime, magnificent and delightful prospect from 
Mount Pleasant, which is not much inferior in 



12i mSTORY OF THS 

{he opinion of some, to that from Mount Wash^ 
inglon. 

Tliis winter I had given up the transporting of 
the mail, and I had no great business on hand, 
beside my necessary employment at home. The 
4th of May, grandmother departed this Ufe, in 
the 84th year of her age, after struggling through 
several cold winters. Being afiiicted with a 
cough, and worn out whh a decline similar to 
that pf consumption, for the cold weather affect- 
ed her very much, nature at length gave way, 
and she could withstand it no longer, Our good 
neighbors and friends again assembled and paid 
their last respects to her remains, and she was 
interred by the side of her husband, on a piece of 
ground which was by them selected, not far from 
where they had lived and slept many years of 
their lives together. Here their bodies will 
remain until called up at the last day. I have 
placed some suitable monuments at their graves, 
which can be plainly seen by their friends, and 
their inscriptions can be read by all who v/ould 
like to see and read them. 

"Their nmries and years, spelt by their lettered ?<Iuso, 

The place of f;inie and elci^y supp!} ; 
And many a holy text aroiuid she strews, 

Tivit teach the rustic moralist to die." 

In the Spring, [ gave up the idea, at present, 
of my carriage road to the mountain and thought 
it would answer for a while, to m.ake a bridlo 
nath to the foot of it. I accordingly went to work 
and made a path sufficient for a horse to travel in, 
Fcven miles, and I have sometimes gone farther 
thiin this, but not often, and when arriving at thd 



WHITE MOUNTAINS. 125 

place, \ve ^vould alight from our horses, and tako 
off our saddles, lay them away, tie the horses to 
a tree, and thus compel them to remain there 
until our return, without food, generally, with the 
exception of one whose age and fidelity com- 
manded more attention than the rest, and which, 
when at the advanced age of thirty, had the spirit 
of a colt, and would carry a visitor safely and 
in good style. For him I used to carry, or 
cause to be carried, a sack of oats, as often as 
possible, yet this was not exactly the right 'way 
of treating the dumb beasts, to ride them on the 
run, early in the morning, the distance of seven 
miles, and then in a state of perspiration, give 
them grain immediately, but there was no alter- 
native. It had to be done in this way or not at 
all, and thus we drilled our horses from day to 
day, and frequently they have gone on the same 
route six days in a week. It was wearing the 
flesh, and trying the spirits, to stand all day, tied 
to a tree, and then run home again as fast as 
possible, at night. The only time they had to 
eat, was a few hours designed for rest, but in this 
way we travelled, the rest of the time while I 
stayed at the mountains, but not without remorse 
of conscience on my part, as our treatment of 
the dumb beasts was rather inhuman. But I was 
not able to remedy it, although I often promised 
so to do, by carrying in the winter on the snow 
a quantity of hay for them to eat when we were 
gone. 

This summer there came some Botanists from 
Boston for the purpose of making a collection 
of plants for themselves, and to collect an as- 



156 HISTOR'S: OF THE 

sortment to send to Europe, and to get som« 
live ones to send to New lork to a friend, to ba 
placed in a botanical garden, I \vent with them 
and two other men besides, to assist tlieni m 
carr}'ing blankets and buHalo skins to make tliem 
comfortable during the night, and also other 
things needful for such an expedition of three 
days. We traveled over and around the hill ; 
and I and one of them went down into a great 
gulf, and here we found a plenty of snow. One 
place, I think w^as worthy of notice, where two 
ledges of perpendicular rocks stood within six 
or eight yards of each other, and the snow had, 
drifted over on top of these ledges and covered 
them both, making a complete roof. The sun 
had softened this snow by day — but at night it 
would freeze ; this had been done so many 
times in succession, that it had formed a crust 
which was almost impenetrable ; and I could 
not safely walk upon it, because it was glassy 
and slippery, and I could not make a dent upon 
it with the heel of my boot ; and underneath 
this, the ground was filled with water ; and warm 
springs seemed to be there, which had caused 
the snow to melt away from under, Such was 
the size of this empty space that a coach with 
six horses attached, might have been driven into 
it. I do not know how far this cavern extended 
as I did not go far into it, for the water was fast 
dropping from the roof, but it appeared to be of 
considerable length. It was a very hot, day, 
and not far from this place, the little delicate 
mountain flowers were in bloom, and here wft 
procured as many as wc chose. There seemed 



WHSTE ^I0Ui^-TAi^'3. 127 

to be a contrast — snow in great quantities and 
flowers just by — wliich wonderfully displays the 
presence and power of an all-seeing and over* 
rulino; God, who takes care of these little plants 
iind causes them to put forth in due season. 

As we were going up the mountain about 
three miles from home, where blue berries grew 
in abundance, we found roads in diflbrcnt places 
in the woods, \vhich were daily traveled by 
bears. \Villiam Howe, a brother of Lucy's, 
itieing then with us, we concluded we would take 
a few of them, if they would please to let us, 
nad we went to work \n the woods and mado 
several log traps, such as are called by hunters, 
dead-fallsj as they were built in such a manner, 
tliat when a bear came to one of them and 
Vantcd the bait, he would have to go in such a 
way that while he took hold of it, the trap would 
fall, and, generally, kill 'him mimediately. 

I had two steel "^traps, which I set also at ono 
Ume. When I was gone from home, William 
went and found a steel trap gone ; he returned 
liome, and taking another man with him, pur. 
sued the remainder of the day, but overtook 
nothing. Early the next morning they again 
set out, and following, found where the animal 
with the trap had lain'Uhe preceding night ; they 
chased him all day, but could not overtake him, 
snd returning homeward, came into one path, 
:5ome distance above, where we had set these 
traps, and when passing them, it was dark, they 
heard a great noise, which seemed to them that 
in old bear was cuffing her cub — he cried and 
look on in so lamentable a manner. William 



128 niSTORY OF THB 

was anxious to go and sec what was the matter 
with them, but his companion would not sufler 
him, as he was better acquainted tlian WiUiam, 
and knew that if a cub was there confined and 
its mother was chastising him for his impru- 
dence, she would be likely to show them some 
signs of her displeasure. They came home, 
and voluntarily said they would not go again 
after him. 

Having that night returned home myself, and 
receiving directions from them in regard to the 
route, and not feeling satisfied to have such a 
loafer make off with my property — he all the 
while suffering with pain, while in his thievish 
act — I concluded to go and look for him. Ac- 
cordingly, the next morning, in company with 
my brother Thomas, I set out, and soon found 
where he had lain the second night ; we contin- 
ued to pursue him as closely as we could trace 
him by the marks he made on the bushes, by 
breaking them with the trap, and laying the 
green brake leaves, which grow common here. 
1 guess he began to think that Ethan, the Old 
Hunter, was after him, in good earnest, and he 
was driven so hard and so closely, that he prop- 
ably concluded to seek out for himself a good 
place, and then give us battle, as it appeared 
from the situation he was in when we overtook 
him. He was in a thicket, dangerous to en- 
counter, for he was one of the long legged kind, 
savage in disposition, and now being covered, I 
thought it best to look out for him. Thomas 
coming up with the gun, was desirous of demon- 
strating his skill in sliooting him, but as the gun 



"W'Hrra mountains. 129 

had been ii)jured by hitting it against a tree, it 
could not be fired easily ; he however ainr^ed at 
the bear's head, but to his astonishment the ball 
entered his fore foot, the one he had at liberty. 
Beginning to feel tor his safety., I took the gua 
and reloaded it, held the lock, the ailected part, 
fi-rmly in my hand, and firing, fojtanalely shot 
him through the head ; he keeled over and soon 
died. We now released the trap from his foot, 
which was nearly vrorn off; he had managed to 
carry the trap and walk on three legs, on logs 
and over windfalls, by carrying it entirely up 
and clear df them. The trap when he first 
stepped into it was fastened with a chain and 
grapple ; this he broke, leaving behind all but a 
iew links, an^ that part which adhered to tho 
irap did not trouble him much. We stripped 
him of his skin and then retiu-ned home with it^, 
and the trap, feeling justified for our humaniiy 
in releasing him from misery. 

Early the same morning, William went to 
find out what had been the trouble the evening 
before, and when he came to the place, he found 
a small cub caught by one hind foot ; it appeared 
true what they had lieard the night before ; tho 
trap was in a measure torn to pieces, and the 
dirt and other stuff seemed to indicate tliat an 
old bear had been there sure enough, but did 
not happen to release the young one. a\s this 
cub was small, it was suffered to go entirely 
through, excepting one hind foot, and when ho 
look hold of the bait, the trap fell and caught his 
hind foot. William took hold of him and bound 
up his ivory, then securing hi.s feet to keep hinj 



130 HISTORY OF THE 

from scratching, broug;ht him home aUve ; think- 
mg he might be tamed and make a pet, as he 
seemed not much hurt, and being so young and 
small he supposed he might be taught as much 
as any other of his kind ; he would also make 
a curiosity, as he was actually a native of the 
place ; but cither the hurt, or the different posi- 
tion in which he traveled from what he had been 
accustomed to, affected him, or else he intended 
to show proper resentment, and he died, shortly 
after being brought home ; notwithstanding he 
bathed him in cold water, and gave him water 
to drink. His skin was taken oif and fastened 
to the barn. 

Shortly after this, word came about the mid- 
dle of the day, that there was a bear in a trap. 
A party from the west having jus? arrived, one 
of the gentlemen said he would go and shoot 
him ; accordingly, we, with others, mounted 
horses and galloped off. On arriving at the spot, 
we found a good sized bear in a steel trap. The 
gentleman chose his distance, and this was not 
far, of course, as he did not apprehend any 
danger from the enemy now before him, for 
Ethan was close behind. He fired three times, 
resting his gun and trembling as if he were 
freezing, (for any one under such untried cir- 
cumstances would naturally have tremor of tho 
nerves, although naturally brave and determin- 
ed,) and after the third shot, I took a club or 
lever, and fmished the matter of killing him ; 
then placing him on my horse behind, brought 
him home, as this was the way J was accustomed 
to carry game home. 



WHITE MOUNTAINS. 131 

Once, when going out, I found a good sized, 
fat, short-legired bear in a steel trap, and having 
a small gun, with only a partridge charge in it, 
I stepped up to him and put the whole contents 
of the gun into his face ; he fell back and died 
immediately. It w^as always against my prin- 
ciple to keep any wild animals in misery, when 
they were in my power, or to try to sport with or 
torment them, (further than to try their strength) 
because they were savage by nature; but I 
would relieve them from pain as soon as possi- 
ble. 1 considered they had feelings, and wero 
not to blame for the species to which they be- 
longed ; therefore I had no right to do so ; but I 
would treat them as well as I could. This bear 
weighed three hundred, and I had some diffi- 
culty in getting it on my horse. Some horses 
are afraid of them and sometimes get frightened 
by them ; this was the case with the one I had, 
for whenever I made an attempt to put the bear 
on her, she would snort and jump about in such 
a manner, I could not get him on ; I then pulled 
off my coat, blindfolded her eyes, put the bear 
upon a stump, tied the horse close by, her head 
to a tree, and then putting my shoulder under 
the bear, lifted him on the saddle. I afterwards 
rolled him back on behind, loosed the horse and 
then mounted the saddle myself, took off the 
blinders, and went on home. Perhaps we mad© 
rather an awkward appearance, but as my com- 
panion was now civil, I had no reason to com- 
plain. Still it required some care and manage- 
ment to keep the balance of him, and look out 
for the hoi-se, for she would turn her head round 



132 felSTOflt OV TtllS, 

and see her burden, and snort and stop sliori, 
and appeared to feel quite dissatisfied and un- 
easy with her load. This we dressed nicely^ 
but the flesh was not of much use to my family, 
as there was an antipathy at home, in conse- 
quence of stories respecting their barbarous 
conduct Eometimes, when they get hungry and 
tear to pieces human flesh and devour it. Na 
one would eat of the bear when cooked, aUhough 
it smelled and tasted w^ell.- We managed to- 
save the oil of what flesh we could not givo 
away to our neighbors. 

At another time^ wnen going out to this nw. 
celebrated place for bears, I found a good siztcl 
yearling bear caught in a steel trap by ons cf 
his fore feet, and he appeared not to have been 
long there.-. He had fastened the grapple to a 
bunch of roots, and there v.as a chain between 
the grapple and the trap ; here he was sitting ir: 
an humble and ashamed-looking position. Ji 
looked him over and at length concluded to con- 
trive means to lead him home. I cut a round 
stick, ten feet in length, sufliiciently large and 
stout to lead him with ; then taking the throat- 
latch from the bridle, the stirrup leather and tho 
mail straps from the saddle, set the horse at 
liberty, and managed to get hold of the bear's 
hind feet, these I straitened and tied to a tree — 
I then went up to his head and secured his 
mouth, but not so tight but what he could lap 
water ; while thus engaged, in spite of all my 
care, he put out his fore paw, the one that was 
at liberty, and placed it so hard against one of 
my legs, that I really think had it not been for a 



vviriTE aiouxTAiN's. in*l' 

good strong boot, he would have lorn {he skin, 
but the boot prevented him from tearing my leg: 
he however took a piece of my pantaloons with 
him-; still I would not give up the idea of bring- 
ing him home alive, I then fastened a strap 
around him, before and behind, and the stick 
upon his neck,- loosened his feet and then began 
to tiy to lead him ; here we had a great struggle 
to see which was the stronger, and which should 
eventually be master ; and he played his part 
so well I could do nothing with him ; he would 
turn upon me and fight me all he possibly could, 
I now thought I must kill him — but as I had 
never been beaten by a wild animal,! was un- 
willing to give up now.- He would come to a 
tree and hold on, so that I found I could not lead 
him.- I again contrived a way to connhe him, 
but with more difficulty than before, as his feet 
were entirely free, and being quick and active 
with them, I had hard work to get them again, 
but after a w^hile, I made out to. I then tied his 
hind and fore feet together, in such a manner 
that he could not scratch me ; then placing him 
on my shoulder, with one hand hold of his ear, 
to keep his head from coming too near mine, in 
case he wished to make a little closer friend- 
ship, I trudged on ; but he was so heavy and 
ugly to manage that it made me sweat, and I 
was obliged to lay him down often and rest, and 
whenever I came to water, I would let him lap 
it. I made out to get two miles — he all the 
while growing worse and worse — at last he ac- 
tually turned upon me and entered into an 
engagement with me, by scratching and trying 
12 



134 HISTORY OF THE 

to bite, and after tearing my vest, I concluded I 
would once more lay him down — and the way 
was not easy — lifting him up as high as I could, 
I let him fall, and the ground being hard, the 
breath left his body. Here I left him, and went 
home, and sent a man after him. 

This fall, at that place, we caught ten bears, 
for which I had three dollars premium, apiece, 
and the skins were worth about as much more, 
which paid me pretty well for my time and 
trouble. 

As we were passing back and forth through 
the woods, we discovered signs of sable. As 
they appeared plenty, I thought it expedient to 
catch them and make merchandise of them — 
their fur, at this time, bringing a high price, and 
the fur of those sable which live in this cold 
region, is much better than the fur of those of 
a milder climate, and superior in quality. I 
hired two men and went with them myself into 
the woods ; we set up traps, spotted ' trees to 
make a line that might be followed again, sev- 
eral miles in length, and then selecting from a 
flock of sheep, the oldest and poorest, such as 
we thought would hardly winter for age, killed 
a number, and took them for bait. This busi- 
ness we stuck closely to, while in the season of 
it, but it did not last long, as the snow falls early 
on the mountains, and a small depth of snow, 
with a warm day and cold night, would freeze 
the traps, so that they would suffer being robbed 
without any resistance. 

At one lime William was going round to these 
traps, he found a live sable in one of them, 



WHITS MOUNTAINS. IS'J^ 

which, from its appearance, had just got in. 
This was a pretty creature. He was three miles 
from home, and knowing their dexterity and 
fondness for mice, and being infested with rats 
at the house, he thought he would bring him 
home alive, and try an experiment with him. 
So he pulled off his mitten, putting him in head 
foremost, then placing him snug in his coat 
pocket, went on his way. The little fellow 
being warm and comfortable, enjoyed it quite 
well. When he got home, we tied a cord around 
his neck, two or three yards in length, and then 
let Jiim go. He did not seem wild, but would 
partake of food, such as was set for him. We 
put him in the cellar, and he soon made a clear- 
ing of the rats. He soon became satisfied with 
our treatment towards him, and gnawing off the 
string, which left the cord around his neck^ 
climbed a window that was cracked a little, 
made a hole through it, and escaped. He ap- 
peared to understand longitude, as he steered 
directly back, and the first time after this, on 
going to the traps, we found him in the next one to 
that in which he was first caught. Poor fellow, 
he was now dead, the cord still around his neck, 
and thus we knew him. These animals are 
beautiful in form, color and motion — more active 
than a cat ; and their fur is excellent for trim- 
mings. 

This fall we caught about seventy-five of these 
sable, for which I realized nearly one dollar 
apiece, and felt quite satisfied for our work. 
VVe made a considerable haA^oc among the wild 
animals, and we made a handsome profit from 



136 



HiuroKv OF tk: 



them, besides clearing the woods of some perrii- 
.cious ones, such as might have troubled us had 
they been suifered to live, as they ^^^^^re getting 
plenty. We felt quite easy with the thought 
that we were mostly free of them. 

While engaged in this hunt, we discovered a 
beautiful little pond, about two miles back of the 
Notch House, one of the sources of the Merri- 
nuic. The appearance of this pond and its 
situation, pleased me much, as I thought it 
would afford abundance of amusement for our 
■visitors, such as were fishermen. Beside this, 
the way in -which we travelled Avas over a 
romantic scenery. Leaving the main road, half 
a mile below the Wiliey House, and travelling 
in the woods half a mile, we came to a ledge of 
great [height, impossible to climb.; this we took 
a different course to go round. For beauty and 
grandeur, it is no where surpassed by any spot, 
to me known, about these mountains. This 
pond was well calculated for Moose, as here 
grew the lily, such as they were fond of pulling 
up, eating their roots. Besides, we saw signs 
and tracks of them, recently made, but we did 
not happen to come in sight of any one of them., 
while in hunting this fall ; although one was 
heard, but it was dark and he took care to moke 
off with himself before it was liglit enough for 
him to be made a mark for the hunter. 

This winter, 1S30,I had business at Colebrook. 
I here found a man who had accidentally come 
across a hollow log, containing a nest full of 
young wolves; two of them he saved alive, and 
•lamed ; these were so well domesticated, that } 



WHITE MOUNTAOS 137 

thought it would £2:ratiry our friends, and add to 
the noveUy of our scenery, to have such an 
animal with us. I engao^ed him for the ne^xt 
.summer. He was so docile as to suffer himself 
to take a seat in the stage, in the spring, to Lan- 
caster; then word was sent me to come for him ; 
I went, and led him home, without any incon- 
venience, excepting when crossing the tracks of 
rabbits, he would jump and try to follow them ; 
I would have to hold him fast by his chain. I 
brought him safely home, and fastened him in 
the blacksmith's shop, in full view for any one 
who chanced to pass. Our little hoy tutored 
him, and would make him howl whenever he 
desired him. ' We found that when fed on ani- 
mal food, he was more savage than when fed 
upon milk. I never but once had any trouble 
with him, and then when going into the shop 
door, I stepped upon a bone v»'hich he had just 
buried in the dirt, and he made a violent attack 
upon me ; I chastised him severely, and ever 
after, he remembered it, and whenever I came 
near, he would appear humble, obedient and 
fawning. He was as playful as any dog what- 
ever, but he did not like strangers quite as well; 
if they came near, while he was eating, he 
would then appear cross, but he never hurt any 
one. 

I bought a beautiful deer, which I kept this 
summer, and a handsome peacock; these all 
amused our visitors. But there was in the wolf, 
a kind of a shy, mischievous disposition, lurking 
within, and whenever he could get a chance, he 
would lay still and seem to be friendly; if a 
12* ^ 



13S Mlb^TOEY OF THE 

chicken would pa^•s his Avay, and il' he came 
within his reach, he would make a sudden jump 
iuid take him, and the sheep, when they passed 
his door, he would try hard for one of them. At 
one time I tied a long rope to the end of his 
chain, and Jet him into the hog yard, where there 
was a number of swine, and an old one, who had 
young pigs, went at him in full rage, so much, 
that she would not suffer him to take one of her 
young ones., nor give him any quarter At 
.another time we let him chase the calves, in 
this way, with a rope tied at the end of his 
chain, and he would have succeeded in killing one 
of them, if he had been permitted. The deer 
possessed a mild, peaceable, inoffensive disposi- 
tion, letting any one go near her, and would eat 
bread from the hands of any one, she was so 
tame and gentle ; but let strangers go into her 
pen, and take her by one of her hind legs and 
they could not hold her ; such was her strength 
and dexterity, that she would get away from 
them, do the best they could. The peacock was 
another favorite, he was a full grown one, and 
for beauty was not surpassed by any fowl what- 
ever ; he possessed a sort of pride in showing 
himself, and our little boy had taught him to 
strut, generally, when he desired him. These 
animals were of no use to us, they were an ex- 
pense ; but I always liked to have such things 
to show our friends and visitors, as they all 
seemed to be delighted in viewing them ; for 
they combined, as it were, the nature of the 
forest, and they, with the romantic scenery, al- 
ways gratified every beholder. 



WHITE MOUNTAOS. 139 

This summer I had no great business on 
hand. I spent my time, mostly, with my visit- 
ors at the house, and ascending- the mountains, 
whenever they decidedly requested it. But as 
I had been so many times up there, 1 was tired 
and worn out. I did not go when I could help 
it, but I always kept good and faithful guides, 
and every other accommodation that was in my 
power. The fame of this mountain scenery 
beginning to spread, and it becoming fashionable, 
many came to view these wonders of nature, 
and they were generalljs if not always satisfied, 
and considered themselves well paid for their 
time and trouble, and likewise they were satis- 
fied with their fare while they stayed with us. 
We used to tell them that whatever was lacking 
in substance we would try to make up in good 
will, and do the best we could to make thetn 
happy and their situation as pleasant as possible, 
and this never failed of having the desired 
effect of convincing them they were as much as 
possible at home. Among others, there came 
this summer four pedestrians from Boston, to 
spend several days with us, and ascend the 
mountain, fish, hunt, &:c. One pleasant morn- 
ing three of them proposed trying the hills ; — 
they were provided with a guide, and every 
thing necessar}*, and set off' early, while the 
other one remained at home with me. As he 
had been up a few years before, he did not want 
to go again, and chose rather to try his luck in 
the forest. 

A short time after they were gone, he took 
his gun and steered for the woods to a place 



140 HISTORY OP THE 

where I directed him, and where I had in th<» 
spring put into an old rotten log some sak for 
deer — they found the salt and frequented it. 
Here he approached with great care, and soon 
had the good fortune to see a deer, and after 
shooting him, cut his ihroat, and with the assist- 
ance of another man, returned in triumph to the 
house with his prize. After performing the du- 
ties of a butcher, he hung him up to ripen, aftei 
which it was taken down and prepared for the 
table, at which he and his friends bountifully 
partook. During their stay with us I had a 
quarter of a fine fat bear sent me; it was caught 
in one of my traps, which I had previously lent 
a neighbor: this they also enjoyed very much. 
Here they stayed and spent some time, enjoying 
themselves in various ways, and then returned 
home. This feat which he performed was told 
when he arrived home, but was hardly credited 
by some of his companions. He referred them 
to me, and I confirmed the statement. 

I went up the mountain by an express desire 
from a botanist, to collect plants and save them 
alive, for I had been there so many times with 
a botanist, to collect plants, that I had acquired 
a considerable knowledge of plants, and the dif- 
ferent places where they grew. I went over the 
hills, and came down into the gulf, and then se- 
lected different species, such as grow no where 
else except in the cold climate of Greenland. — 
I carefully took them up with a quantity of 
earth, and brought them home, placed them'in a 
vase, with some moist moss to preserve them, 
and then labelled the vase and sent it immedi- 



AVUITi: MOUMAkNS. 141 

alely to Boston. It was safely conveyed, and 
the plants were placed in a Botanical Garden ; 
how man}?- of them survived I cannot tell, as I 
never heard from them afterwards. The plants 
that were sent to New York the year before, 
perished bj^ the way, or rather some of the deli- 
cate ones. This was a beautiful employment, 
which I always engaged in with much pleasure ; 
finding out how curiously Nature had formed 
ihem, and put them in different places, accord- 
ing to their merits, or properties, and the state 
of the atmosphere in which they were destined 
to live. 

This summer I guided several parties to the 
Pond. The first time I went there, we caught, 
in a short time, about seventy nice salmon trout; 
they differed a little from our common river trout, 
as ihey had a redder appearance, and their taste 
and flavor was delicious. 'On the bank of the 
Pond we struck up a fire, and after dre^^sing a 
sufficient number of them, we cooked them in 
real hunter style. 1 cut a stick with three 
prongs to it, and put the trout on these prongs, 
in form of a gridiron, and 1 broiled them over 
the fire, and then I would cut pieces of raw pork 
and broil it in the same way, and lay them on 
top of the trout, and that would give them the 
right relish ; and when cooked in this way, with 
a piece of good wheat bread, they make a good 
meal. I always enjoyed these and similar feasts 
in the woods, as in such ways i suppose our 
forefathers lived, when they first came over and 
s«-ttled this country. We had no fears from the 
-r}atives, as 1 expect they had in that time, bui 



142 HISTORY OF THE 

we could eat and drink without fear of beings 
troubled. All the fish which remained after we 
had eaten, I took up and brought home. My 
visitors, I believe, were as well satisfied as myself 
in all these excursions, wild as they were ; at 
least, ihey would express themselves so. 

This fall, we again set our sable traps and 
cau2"ht a number of sable, but not so many as 
we would have done, had it not been for the 
black cat, or fisher, who got the art of following 
the line, and robbing tlie traps of bait, and would 
not then be satisfied, but would take the sable 
from the trap and eat them ; this we did not like 
so well, but it so happened that we could not 
help ourselves : they escaped being caught, al- 
though we tried hard to catch them ; still, they 
were so cunning or lucky we could not do it. 

The wolves had been, for a long time, troub- 
ling us, and were actually so cunning, I could 
not catch one of them, although I had, in vari- 
ous ways, tried. The nearest I came to catch- 
ing them, was by setting a irap in the water 
where they frequently crossed the river in a par- 
ticular place. One of them sprung the trap, 
but it was cold weather, and ice had gathered 
upon it : it did not shut so closely but that he 
pulled out his foot, and lucky for him, he made 
his escape. One good haul 1 made while setting 
the trap here in the water. It so happened that 
a family of ducks were swimming along, and 
they being so near together, four of them were 
caught at the same time, in one trap. This, we 
thought, was almost a miraculous thing — but it 

V 



WUITB MOUNTAINS. 143 

IS true, for I took them all out myself, and car- 
ried them to the house. 

In December there came a number of wolves 
to visit my flock in the night, but the sheep re- 
treated, and went under the shed, and got in 
amidst the cattle and carriages. Their enemy 
did not venture in there although they went as 
far as the middle post of the shed, for we tracked 
them there in the morning ; yet they satisfied 
their craving appetites, in a measure, by going 
just back of the stable and digging up the old 
carcases of bears, which had been thrown there 
a few months before ; these they gnawed closel 
to the bone. The dog being shut up in the 
house, began to be uneasy and tried to get out, 
when at length, I arose and let him out of doors, 
not knowing the cause of his uneasiness. He flew 
at ihem and they retired a few rods and then 
entered into an engagement with him, and I 
really think they would have made a finish of 
him.'had I not interfered and driven them away. 
This was by a bright moonshine, and the dog, 
after being first liberated from them, ran towards 
me, and the wolves followed closely behind him, 
until they came near me ; and as I had no 
weapon to fight them with, being in my night 
dress, I observed to them that they had better 
make off with themselves, or I would prepare 
for them, and that pretty soon. They then 
turned about and marched away, but not with- 
out giving us some of their lonesome music. 
There were four of them. I counted their tracks 
as they made them along in a light snow, and 
it was just day-light. As ray sho^p had been 



144 HrSTORV OF TH3'" 

on the placn for a long time, and had taken a 
notion to ramble in the woods, they were trouble- 
some to us, as we had to look them up every 
night, for fear of their being caught. I was de- 
termined to sell them and get rid of our trouble, 
which I did the second fall after this. 

This winter (1S31) there came some favorite 
hunters to go Avith me and search for Moose. 
As we knew there were Moose somevyhere about 
the mountain, for tr/o had been seen to cross the 
road a few months before, half a mile below my 
house. Every thing being put in readiness, we 
with our dogs and snow-shoes set off. We first 
steered to the before-mentioned pond. We trav- 
elled all day, but we found no moose, and at 
night we went down to my father's ; there we 
stayed that night, where some of our party 
being wearied, remained the next day, and 
amused themselves by cutting pasteboard min- 
inoes, while father, Mr. Davis and myself went 
out in search of moose. We travelled another 
day, but with no better success than the former 
day. We went up so high and so far into the 
woods, as to get beyond the living animals, such 
as we were then in pursuit of, as we could not 
see a track or sign of one, and had actually 
got upon a hill, from which it Avas difficult to get 
down. We struck upon a brook which had 
a smooth surlace, being then frozen over, and 
father, sitting down upon the heels of his snow 
shoes, commenced sliding down ; he had got 
under good head way, when he came in contact 
with a tree which stood in his way, and, to save 
himself, caught hold of it; thus, as he was 



WitlTE MOUNT AIXS. 145 

coming with such force when he took hold of it, 
gave him a complete sotierset, and turned him 
compleiely round the tree. We came down in 
a similar manner, but not without fears, as it 
was dangerous. We made out, however, to get 
in that night. 

The next day, as our part}'" which we left be- 
hind had got rested, we started for home, and 
on our way took some fine deer. These we felt 
justified in ta~ki"ng, as it is said that wolves fol- 
low when deer are |)lenty, and these ferocious 
animals had been troublesom.e, making great 
depredations among- flocks of sheep in the 
neighborhood by killing a number at a time, and 
many more than they wanted for present use J 
but in my flock they had been more favorable, 
although at one time, they killed and w^ounded 
seven ; hov/ever, they generally took no more 
than they wanted at a time. They Select the 
finest and fatest, and on him perform a curious 
act in butchering. We have found, after they 
have visited the flocks, a skin perfectly whole, 
turned flesh side oUt, with no other ftiark upon 
it, excepting at the throat, where there was a 
regular slit cut, as though it had been cut with 
a knife, down as far' as the forelegs ; the flesh 
all eaten out, and the legs taken ofl?', down as far 
as the lowest joint ; the head and back bone 
left attached to it; the pelt left in the tield, but 
a few rods from the house ; they would some- 
times set up a howling, and a more terific and' 
dismal noise, 1 never wish to hear than this, in 
a clear still night. Their sound would echo^ 
from one hill lo another, and it would seem that 
13 



14G EI5T0RY OP TH2 

the ■uT)od3 were filled and alive with them. 

V\"e had some troub]|? with the old barn, that 
escaped the fire in 1816, as it had received some 
severe shocks in the times of the freshets, and 
had some considerable injury done to it this 
winter. We had fears lest the wind would blow 
it over, and destroy or injure the cattle ; how- 
ever, we proped it up, and it did not fall. I 
went to work and bought a sufficient quantity of 
lumber^ and brought it home, for a new barn. 
In the spring and summer I built a new one,^ 
sixty fest long, and forty Vv^ide. This I set ba.-^k 
of the shed, and I had a communication through 
from the shed into it, which made it convenient 
for all the buildings. 

This summer we had a great many visitors,, 
and amiOng others, a member of Congress, Dan- 
iel Webster, It was in the warm weather of 
June, and he desired me to go with him up the 
mountain, Vvhich I accordingly consented to, and 
we went up without meeting anything worthy of 
note, more than was common for me to find, 
but to him things appeared interesting ; and 
when we arrived there, he addressed him.self in 
this way, saying, " Mount Washington I have 
come a long distance, have toiled hard to arrive- 
at your summit, and now you seem to gire me a 
cofd reception, for which I am extremely sorry, 
as I shall not have time enough to view this 
grand prospect which nov^r lies before me, and 
nothing prevents but the uncomfortable atmos- 
phere in which you reside !'' After making this 
and som^e other observation?, we began our de- 
scent, and there was actually a cold storm of 



WHITE MOUNTAII^S. 147 

enow here on the hill, while below, it was toler- 
ably clear, and the snow froze upon us, and we 
suffered with the cold, until we came some way 
down, and reached a warmer climate. We re- 
turned safely home, when he related his tour to 
his female friends, whom he had left behind to 
spend the day at the house. Here they stopped 
again over night, and the next morning he tool: 
his departure. After paying his bili, he made 
me a handsome present of twenty dollars. 

I had bought a little piece of artillery from th? 
company of militia in Whiteneld, and put it on 
a Hide mound, which was called Giant's Grave, 
just back, or at the end of the barn. This I had 
there for the benefit of the echo, for when loaded 
and touched ofl", it would maVie a great noise, as 
it stood up in the air above the level of the sur- 
face, thirty or forty feet high, and when the air 
was still and clear, would e(*ho from one hi'l to 
another, and then the sound would float along 
down the stream until it all died away on the 
ear. This was really grand and delightful, and 
all who heard it were well pleased, and some 
used to call it Crawford's hom.e-made thunder, 
as it resembled the sound of thunder more than 
any thing else. It was said that this echo was 
similar to that on Lake George, when a gun 
was fired there. This cannon was made fre- 
quent use of, and for no other purpose, but to 
amuse our friends and visitors. When once it 
was londed, and fdled so full, and jambed in so 
hard, that it burst in touching it off, and thatpiU 
an end to this kind of sport, then, but we con- 
stantly had company in the season of it, and 



148 HISTORY OK THE 

many were in the habit of making us presents, 
and among them we were presented with another 
gun, much superior to the former, sent to us 
from Boston, by Mr. Gale and Mr. Gibson, to 
Portland, and brought from there, by a man who 
had been to market, with cheese. This gun 
would hold half a pint of powder at a time, and 
the lirst tim.e when we loaded it, we fired it off 
in the road, not far from the house, and it spoke 
so loud, that it made the house jar, and cracked 
sgme glass in the windows. We then removed 
it to the before-mentioned place, where -the other 
stood, and there it remamed a few ye§.rs, till at 
length we had some men there who were help- 
ing us get in our hay ; and one night it was de- 
sired to have it fired oft^, and one of them loaded 
it with more than a proper charge, and then put 
in gravel and drove it in so hard, as he thought 
he would give us such j^n explosion as we never 
heard before .; then with his match he touched 
it ofi^ and it burst, and flew all in pieces. 1 
then sent to Portland and bought another to make 
up this loss, and that I left with some other 
interesting things, at the White Hills. Some 
seasons we have burnt three kegs of powder in 
that gun. Con>pany coming from all quarters, 
we now suffered for the want of house-room, and 
many times our visitors were so numerous, that 
for the want of beds and lodging rooms, Lucy 
.would have to take the feather beds from the 
bedsteads, and make them up on the floor ; and 
then the straw beds would answer for the bed- 
steads ; and in this way we could accommodate 
two, and sometimes four; and frequently shf 



WHITE MOUNTAINS. 



149 



would give up her own bed and lie down her- 
self upon the floor ; as she was always willing to 
suffer herself, if she could only make her friends 
comfortable : but this, besides being unpleasant 
all round, was wearing upon the constitution too 
mach, after toiling hard all day, to be deprived 
of a bed at night to sleep upon. But such are 
the feelings w'hich many are subject to, if they 
possess oi3liging dispositions, and, more espe- 
cially, when they are used to misfortunes, as we 
had been, that nothing seems too much for our 
friends ; and as it seemed that it was not in- 
tended for us to have enough to buy such things, 
in abundance, as most of our visitors w^ere 
doubtless accustomed to at home, therefore it be- 
came needful to do every act of kindness in our 
power. I was again advised by my friends to 
build an addition, which I knew was necessary, 
but which my circumstances, I well knew, 
would not admit of: still, after considering and 
reconsidering, I had been in debt ever since I 
came here to live ; but I had never suffered 
much inconvenience by it ; and I had never 
been called upon in such s. manner as to make 
m^ any cost, with two exceptions ; and I found I 
could have fifteen hundred dollars, from the 
Savings Bank, in Concord, by paying the inter- 
est annually, for a number of years, if I gave 
them good sureties, and having concluded to 
build, I mortgaged my farm and obtained the 
sureties required. 

The roads were again good, and I expected if 
they remained so, there w^ould be more company 
every year ; and as the situation of my housa 
13* 



j50 JIISTOFcY OF THE 

vvas sach that it had a commanding view of all 
ths mountain scenery around, and this was actu- 
ally, as I thought, the only proper place for all 
those who desired to visit this romantic spot, 
although another establishment had been erected 
three quarters of a mile below my house, for the 
same purpose, which for its size and construc- 
tion, was w^ell enough, yet there \yas but a lim- 
ited prospect of the mountains there, for Mount 
Deception stands between that and Mount Wash- 
ington, therefore all who desired to see it had 
to come to my house, and view it from there : 
and all who acted upon principles of honor and 
justice, preferred this place to any other, those 
■yvho lived here having beaten the bush and suf- 
fered every hardship and privation, which such 
a lonely place is subject to, when new ; and I 
had done every thing to open and facilitate a 
way to the Mountains, and make it as good and 
convenient as I possibly could, therefore, in con- 
sideration of all these circumstances, I expected 
public patronage ; and I always had a goodly 
share, particularly of distinguished men ; and 
always will be likely to, I thought, at my house, 
if kept in good style, without having all the 
affluence of a City Hotel, as that will not be ex- 
pected, so far in the woods, remote from market ; 
but always having such things as are suitable for 
such a place, served up in a proper mianner, neat 
and clean, so as never to fail to satisfy persons 
of judgment. 



In the fall of 1831, as it is said to be a \ 



an- 



kee custom, that when a man is thous^ht to be 



doino: well, there is always some one who 



WHITi: MOUKTAlNii. 151 

wishes to dip into the same business, as other 
men think they can do better, especially, if they 
suppose they can indulge themselves, by living 
easily, and by fair promises never to be fulfilled, 
make others work without pay for their labor ; 
so with a man from Jefferson, in our opinion, 
and we have a right to our opinion, and to 
pubhsh it, with proper motives, for the public 
good. He came and bargained for a place 
three quarters of a mile below mine ; I had been 
acquainted with him years previously, and 
thought him friendly, as most other people are, 
and, also, that he was, as we were, friendly to 
the inhabitants around, when, one day, happen- 
ing t"o be down where this man was, for he had 
come to look over the premises, (which he has 
since left, and which, perhaps, " shall know 
him " now " no more, forever,") and make a bar- 
gain for the same, I said to him. William, 
what are you here for, and where are you going i 
which, by some, might possibly be thought im- 
pertinent ; but it was a friendly way we had of 
calling one another by the given name. He an- 
swered, he was going to Bethlehem to see some 
men there. I soon left, and this man went no 
farther than to Mr. Rosebrooks, six miles, to 
the man who owned the place, and bought it of 
him : and, in January, was to take possession. 
This clandestine management was mystery to 
me, for we were pleased to have a neighbor 
near, and no disadvantage had arisen by the set- 
tlement, nor ever would have come, had this 
man only taken the right course. We might 
have been a great help to each other, as had been 



152 HISTORY OF THB 

the case with others who lived there before him ; 
but, instead of this, he took a different way to 
manage. He, in summer, made use of my 
mountain road, where I had spent considerable 
money, and which I had labored hard to make 
for visitors, and my own benefit, and thoug-ht as 
much my property, as any other part of my own 
farm, as it was made entirely at my ov/n ex- 
pense, through my own land ; and to prevent 
encroachment on his part, I was compelled to 
make a fence and to put up a quit against him ; 
and finding he could not have this privileGfe by 
stealth, he sends a hired man to have Richard 
Eastman, Esq. come down to his house, for he 
was there at our house, wishing him to fnter- 
cede for him, and see if I would not then com- 
pro ni-^e with him, and let him have the privi- 
lege of my road. The Esquire told him, it was 
then too hite for this; he should have come to 
me himself, before he had attempted to intrude 
upon my rights, and then there would have been 
no trouble in procuring this or any other favor, 
and we could have lived like men, and we could 
have been an advantage to (*€ich other ; but, in- 
stead of this, he tried to live on me and the 
effects of my hard labor. After this he made a 
path on the back of Mount Deception and then 
came into my road, advertising he had made a 
new road, shorter) insf the distance to the Moun- 
tain ; this I did not contradict in print, and thus 
the public was imposed upon and I was robbed 
of what was actually my own property in this 
insinuating way. When I first came to live 
here, there was a mail once a week from Maine, 



WMITK MOUNTAINS. 153 

:up through the Notch to Lancaster, Vermont, 
and it continued so for some time after ; and as 
the inhabitants increased, there was another mail 
joute estabhshed from Littleton to my house, in- 
tersecting the one running through the Notch, 
and it was necessary for the Postmaster to open 
it and divide it, and send packages to the directed 
places. I was properly appointed tp transact this 
business, and tiien it run twice each week and 
now three times, each wa}^ once in each work- 
ing day, throughout the week, all the year ; my 
neighbor having a desire to lake this situation of 
Postmaster, got a petition draughted and had a 
false afhdavit sworm to, for the sake of wresting 
ihe office from me : this petitipn he carried 
about, himself, to the industrious inhabitants, 
who had not time to read it, as they said, and 
were not aware of what they wer.e then doing, 
when they signed it, supposing that they were 
to have an office in their own town, and not dis- 
turbing mine ; and he succeeded in obtaining 
jiames of eighteen citizens and three selectmen, 
as stated from Washington, and this was another 
misrepresentation, as this was a new place and 
the town had noi been organized ; therefore they 
had no select men or any other officers, excepting 
some men authorized to receive public money for 
schools, and tha,t was all they had the power to 
do. This is a copy of the letter from head 
quarters. 

Post Office Department, 

Office of Appts. and Inst. 

August, 24, 1832. 
Ethan A. Crawford, Esq, 

^>ir : li is represented to this Department, in an afl;- 



154 HISTORY OF THB 

davit, that you have, at divers times, detained letters and 
papers which were direct"d to Phineas Rosebrook. The 
Po.-!t Master General requires your answer to this charge. 
It is also represented by eighteen citizens and three Sc- 
lent men ^f (^arro!!, th it the pres-^nt location of vonr Post 
OlK',e is very in:':onveni9nt, and that the people who de- 
pc'nd on it would be much better accommodated by its 
removal to the house of William Denison. The Post 
Master General wishes to know if you have any objec- 
tions to the proposed change of site. 

I am, Sir, reKpectfulIv, ' 

Your Obedient Servant, 

S. R. HUBBARD. 

This made me some trouble, as I was under 
the necessity of vindicating my own character, 
in the charge laid against me. I went to Mr. 
Ros(;brook, myself, and he could not say as it 
had been stated, but only to gratify the man, 
who was an oliice seeker, had he spoken as he 
did, and most of those w^ho signed the petition, 
said they were willino; to sign one against it, if 
1 wished them, but that I could do without as- 
sistance from them by my answering the letter 
referred to. However, he did not obtain his ob- 
ject ; the Post pffice was not moved- 

After getting through whh my summer and 
fall company, in the winter of 1832, as I had 
made up my mind to build, we had a great deal 
to do. As we had our glass and nails, our 
paints and oils, and other necessary things, to 
buy and bring home, we did not get ready to 
draw lumber until March. We then went at it 
with two teams, myselt with one and my little 
boy with another ; and this kept us in employ- 
ment nearly two months. As it required a great 
quantity of lumber, such as boards, shingles. 



•fTHITB MOCNTAIN3. 155 

clapboards, &:c. from this same before-mentioned 
distance of thirteen miles; and, in the spring-, I 
hired men and went into the woods and pre- 
pared timber for a house, and in Mav, we 
raised iu It was sixty feet long and fort}' feet 
wide, two stories, with the addition of a piazza 
on one bide, sixty feet long, twO' stories, and this 
fronts Mount Washington, East; North end, 
Mount Deception ; South end, the beautiful 
g-reen Hill, in the summer where Deer live, 
since named Liberty Mountain, and whence they 
have come down frequently into the intervale and 
there played and gamboled about in full view, 
and many times have gratified our visitors by 
staying some time in this way, and then gallop- 
ing off into the woods. Again I kept salt in an 
old log at the end of the meadow, which in- 
duced them to come down there. I desired my 
men never to frighten them, or injure them, 
choosing rather that they should come this way, 
than to kill them ; and in the fall, this hill, like 
the surrounting mountains, is richly ornamented 
with various colors, which, if imitated by a 
Painter, would make, as it would at any time, 
a handsome picture. And there is a one story 
piazza, fifty feet long, to accommodate the trav- 
eller, as he could drive up by the side of it, and 
then step into it right out of the carriage. I 
hired six joiners, who went industriously to 
work, and before the last of July, tliey had their 
work done, and the painting outside was fin- 
ished, so that it was ready for company, except- 
ing plastering, which we postponed for another 
year. This new addition gave us a great deal 



156 HISTORY OP THE 

of room, which then required considerable furni- 
ture to make it comfortable, without extrava- 
gance ; and I w^as under the necessity of buying 
all this, and it only involved me more and more 
in debt ; but still, I hoped to see better times, 
although I did not know when, for I was con- 
tinually going from one expense to another. 
Still I had paid away my money as fast as I 
had received it, and, I thought, to good advan- 
tage. There was, } may say, another great ex- 
penf?e which still hung upon my shoulders, 
which I did not know how to extricate myself 
from. As I was obliged to keep a number of 
horses, for no other purpose than to accomm.o- 
date my friends, a few months in the summer, 
for them to ride upon the mountain, these I had 
to keep mo^t of the year, on hay and grain 
".vhen used, and th^y were of little use besides 
this, the rest of the year. Then I had the most 
of my help to hire, which took away my cop- 
per?, as I always made it a practice to pay my 
hired help, if I did not pay other debts, as I 
always considered the laborer worthy of his 
hire, and all those who depend upon their own 
daily labor for a living, ought not to be cheated, 
neither ought their work to be trifled with, 
while they who trade and get their living by 
speculation, deserve also to be punctually paid 
their due, although they do not always have so 
great immediate necessity ; but were there gene- 
rally greater punctuality, there would be less 
failures. I have often heard it said that 

He who by the farm would thrive, 
Must iither hold the plough or drive. 



■VTHITE MOUXTAINS. 157 

And sometimes I tliougbt I did both ; but it 
seemed I did not "et abead very fast, though I 
made the best I could of it, laboring myself all 
the time. I seldom lost a meal of victuals or a 
day, in consequence of sickness, and I had no 
other infirmities, excepting at times, the rheuma- 
tism, which I think was caused by working in 
the water when living in the State of New 
York, and a tumor which 1 then thought was the 
piles and treated in a manner for the piles ; but 
this was a painful thing to me. Many times I 
suffered greatly from the complaint, without say- 
ing any thing about it, and I kept it to myself for 
a long time. This, I suppose, was caused by 
going through so many heats and colds in some 
of the many and severe hardships which I had 
encountered while in trying to do all I could for 
the public, and I sometimes went beyond m.y 
strength, and had 1 not more than a common 
constitution, I could not have stood it so long as 
I did. This summer we again had many 
visitors, and among them came a gentleman 
from Georgia, for his health. He had fallen in 
company with a party which, after making their 
visit, took their leave of him and us, and re- 
turned, while he stayed some weeks; as his 
health was poor, he did not care much about the 
society of strangers, choosing rather to spend his 
time in the circle of our family, while he amused 
us, giving us descriptions of his country, and the 
manners there, which interested very much ; and 
sometimes he would play some tunes upon a 
violin, which belonged to the house, and after 
leaving, before he arrived at home, he wrote to 
14 



15S HISTORY OP THB 

US, infcrmfng us his health was improved by 
our mountain air. 

This winter, 1833, I bought a suflicient quan- 
tity of lime and brought it from Portland and 
Littleton, to plaster my house, also paper to 
paper it with ; likewise in the spring, the ma- 
son came and plastered it, and then we papered 
it. We had some other troubles with our neigh- 
bor, by bis encroaching on our property, be- 
side what 1 have mentioned, which I will not 
relate. Some may say 1 did not like to have a 
man settle down near me : this, if so consid- 
ered, was not so. I might have had the place 
where he lived, twice. The first man that 
bought the land as he thought, put up buildings, 
but it happened that he did not buy the lot which 
he had built upon ; this circumstance I was 
aware of, and I might have gone to the right 
owner and bought myself; hut I had no dispo- 
sition for an act like this ; he afterwards went 
and bought, which I was perfectly willing he 
should do ; and, after a w^hile, he finding that 
he should not be able to finish his buildings 
and pay for the land, came like a man and 
oflered it to me, first, and wished me to buy it. 
This, also, I was advised to do, by my father, 
and he offered to assist me if I bought it, but I 
told him that I did not want it ; furthermore, I 
was willing to have another establishment, so that 
the public would not be compelled to put up with 
a Crawford, because there could be no other 
place ; and if I could not do so w^ell as to merit 
public patronage, I ought not to have it ; and one 
other reason induced me to have the place set- 



WHITE MOUx^Ti.ir«s"! 159 

tied ; the more inhabitants, and the better the 
accommodations, at the mountains, the more peo- 
ple would be likely to resort here, as they would 
be sure of being made more comfortable, and 
would not be crowded, and moreover they could 
have a choice. Sometimes we were full, also, 
and desired some to go to our neighbor's, and 
they answered if we had but a spare peg in the 
house, why they could hang on that, one night, 
and refused thus to be turned away, and we 
would do the best we could for them, and make 
them comfortable, if possible. This summer 
we had more company than usual, which kept 
us busy all the time from June until the last of 
September; and not one night were we without 
guests. In July, the 31st, we had seventy-five 
to lodge, besides OLir own family ; early the next 
morning a goodly number of the gentlemen 
mounted horses and set off for the mountains, in 
good spirits, while the remainder, many of them, 
stayed and spent the day at the house with us ; 
they all anticipated, the ensuing evening, a social 
and merry time, as they intended to have an in- 
nocent dance after the music of a violin, which 
was to be used by a celebrated player, as they 
had done the evening before ; but alas ! how 
soon may the expectation of pleasure, in this 
world, be cut off! They all reached the sum- 
mit in good season and partaking of tiie fare 
carried for them by the guide, and making such 
remarks as they thought proper, they, at one 
o'clock, began to descend. One of the party 
being a sea Captain, said he would be the first 
down to see the ladies, and instantly sol forward- 



160 HISTORY OF THE 

The ETuide called out to him, and told him he 
was going wrong ; but either he did not hear him, 
or else he thought he might steer his way here 
on this mountain as well as on the water, went 
on, and they soon lost sight of him. The rest 
of the party kept together until they reached the 
horses, but saw nothing of the Captain ; but here 
they found his horse and the rest of the horses, 
and knew, from this circumstance, that he had 
got out of the way. They then came home as 
fast as possible, and related this to his brother, 
sisters and friends, who were waiting his return ; 
they were alarmed and felt anxious for his safety. 
1 was called upon and consulted to know how we 
were to manage to find him. We then agreed 
that a fire should be made on or near the stream 
which crosses the path coming down the moun- 
tain, in case he should strike upon this stream in 
his wanderings, and follow it down till he came 
to this fire ; and then there should be some one 
there to assist him home, while I should go on 
ihe mountain and search for him ; we accord- 
ingly set out ; his brother was to take care and 
manage the fire and then leave some one to ]blow 
the horn and be on the look out for the Captain ; 
Avhile I ascending the mountain, went up Jacob's 
Ladder, and out through the woods, that night, 
and called out to him a number of times, but no 
answer could I receive ; and thus I wandered 
about, calling to him, until it grew so dark I 
could see no longer. I then made my way 
down to a temporary cam]), which we had to 
acconniiodate us, v/hen at work on the road, and 
here 1 staved the remainder of tlie niaht. Early 



WHITE !Vr0UNTAI>*S. 161 

the next morning, while it was yet dark, I arose 
and pursued after him again with renewed 
vigor. I went again on the mountain and again 
called out to him, in different places, but all in 
vain ; no answer could I get, and I found one 
might as well look for a needle in a hay mow, 
as to find a man here on the mountain, unless 
he had accidentally slipped and put out a joint, 
or broken a bone, so that he could not walk. I 
feared that this was the case with him, and 
when worn out with fatigue and hunger, began 
to call loudly, and I came home without finding 
a single trace of him. This was sorrowful news 
to his friends and relatives, but still a hope was 
anticipated that he might find himself safe on 
the other side of the hills, which was actually 
the case ; and here we will make use of his 
own language, as he wrote it in the Album after 
his return. 

August 1, 1833. 
The inclination I felt to reach a wariri climate inducetJ 
me to leave the party with whom I had ascended Mount 
Washington yesterday. After half an hour's rapid walk, 
I found myself alone — and a little time convinced me, that 
attemptins; to find them was fruitless. I then found my 
Way to the bed of a stream-— a br;;n h of the S ico, and 
followed its winding for twelve miles ihrougli briers and 
over rocks, from 1 till 7 o'clock P. M., and when the 
approaching darkness warned me of the necessity of a 
bed, I discovered an object more pleasing that all the 
wonderful scenery that had served (though in a slight 
degree) to while away my six hours incessant labor. 
'Twas a log brilge crossing the stream in which I waa 
wading. Following the road with renewed vigor, I arriv- 
ed in an hour at Mr. Hanson's, when a bowl of milk and 
a good bed left me nothing to regret, but the probability 
•f uneasiness in the minds of my friends hers, 

14* 



IG'J HISTORY OP THE 

Thi.s morning, I left Mr. Hanson's at five o'clock — 
walked seven miles to Mr. Wentworth's, in Jackson ; 
rode three miles bare-back to Mr. Chislev's, who took 
me in his wagon seven or eight njiles to Gould's, in Bart- 
lett — whence I made the best of my way to this comfort- 
able, temporary home, having been absent over thirty 
I'oiirs. JXO. g. PALNE. 

P. S. So the mountains brought forth a mouse. 

[J. S. P. 
"Go it you Cripples." 

Kennebunk-port Party obliged to leave here this day in 
anxious uncertainty for the fate of our cousin and friend, 
Lieut J. S. Paine. [C. A. L. aud Party. 

With hearts light and gay, 

On a fine summer day, 

We arrived at far fam'd Ethans's place ; 

When the sun shone so bright. 

And all filled wilh deliglit, 

AVe welcomed with joy each known face. 

Then we wanted to go, 

To the mountains of snow 

And look on that scene so sublime ; 

But our friends said " nay," 

' T was a dangerous way. 

And the rocks we should ne'er try to climb. 

So we waited to hoar 

What our friend Paine would bear, 

From the weather, the road and the sight, 

But w^e waited in vain. 

For alas ! he ne'er came. 

And dreary and dull was the night. 

May he come in his gloiy, 

To finish my story, 

And tell of his victories won ; 

Then with sun beaming bright, 

And hearts bounding light. 

We'll farewell to Movat AVashi:vgton. 



WHITE MOUNTAINS. 1G3 

Tills poetic effusion Vv'as written by the ac- 
complished Mrs. C. A. Lord, of Kennebunkport, 
us saith the Album. 

It is necessary for all who ascend the moun- 
tain, especially for the first time, to be governed 
by the guide, as the distance of more than a 
mile is over rocks without any surface to make 
any path or track, and unless the stranger takes 
particular notice of the way in which he goes 
up, he may like the Captain, get mistaken and 
take a wrong course : although several years 
ago, when it was the custom to go out and 
camp at the foot of the mountain, then, early 
in the morning, ascend the hill, a young Ver- 
monter with some others came and went there 
and stayed, and early in the morning set out to 
chmbthe hills, and there came on a thick mist of 
rain after they had started, and he being perse- 
vering determined to go on, and for fear he 
should lose his way when he should come back, 
laid up piles of stones, as monuments or guides, 
at proper distances from each other, so that 
travellers should not get mistaken or lost, which 
remain in honor to him at this day and have 
been of use to many, who were like himself, 
determined to pursue after they had undertaken 
it ; he, however, returned to the camp after 
reaching the summit, sent the guide home for 
new supplies of provisions, and there they re- 
mained until they had a clear day. Such was 
the spirit of a Vermontcr. 

I do not recollect any thing more, particu- 
larly interesting, that took place this summer, 
worth mentioning, but suffice it to say, we had a 



164 HISTORY OF THE 

plenty of company until quite late in the fall^ 
and some after the snow had got so deep that 
they could not reach the top of the hill. 

1834. Now as I was satisfied, for the pres- 
ent, with building, I had not much business on 
hand excepting that of buying and bringing 
home supplies for the season. I spent my time 
principally with my family. Home, with me^ 
was always delightful, after spending the day in 
different exercises and getting weary. To be 
able to sit down and have half a dozen little 
ones come and rest themselves upon me, all of 
them having good reason and proper shapes, 
which was a great satisfaction to me, was con- 
sidered a blessing. In April, one week after the 
birth of our ninth child, Lucy took cold, and as 
she had been accustomed to administer physic 
to her family, when unwell, she now thought 
she Avould prescribe for herself. She then 
ordered a dose of hygcan pills to be handed her, 
took a large portion of them ; but as these had 
not the desired effect, took another, which, as 
her physician told her afterwards, was the means 
of saving her life at that time ; but did not re- 
store her to health. She remained sick and fee- 
ble, whh a slow fever ; I then sent eighteen 
miles for a physician who came and gave her 
such things as he thought proper, but did not 
remove the cause. We sent and he came 
again ; but no better did she get. Her case was 
now a desperate one. The child, for want of 
proper nourishment, such as is natural for child- 
ren, grew very worried and fretful ; this served 
to add another trouble to Lucy, as she had 



WIIITK MOLXTAIXS. 165 

always been healthy and could satisfy her iii- 
infauts by nursing them, when, at this time, it 
only seemed to injure it and not satisfy it ; and 
41S she had the feelings of a mother, she said she 
did not know how to bear with its cries. A 
friend, a gentleman from Portsmouth, calling at 
my house, at this time, when going on business 
to Jefferson, saw the situation of Lucy, and she 
having a brother living there, whose wife had 
just lost an infant, they sent me word by the 
gentleman upon his return from Jefferson, that if 
I would bring the child to them, they would take 
care of it. This information I received late at 
night and when communicating it to Lucy, she 
■seemed rejoiced to think the child was provided 
for ; for I brought up several objections to her 
against parting with it ; told her that if they 
nursed it, most likely their affections would be 
so great for it, they would not be willing to give 
it up ; all these things she could do away if she 
-could but know it comfortably taken care of. 
Her mind being fixed, suitable preparations were 
made for its removal ; my courage began to fail. 
I asked Lucy if we had not better wait and 
bring her brother's wife over here ? She said, 
no, as it would be a long time before she would 
be able to come, and she could not bear the 
sufferings of the babe any longer. It was then 
wrapped up, and after it had received the part- 
ing kiss from its mother which was imprinted 
with a tear, for which she received a smik; in 
return, for the child was then six weeks old, I 
took it in my arms on horse back and carried it 
sixteen miles without a murmur or a crv from 



165 EISTO^T or THE 

the child, by stopping twice on the way and feed- 
ing it out of a bottle, which I carried in my 
pocket, which had been previously prepared for 
it. The child was welcomed by its new mother, 
and after receiving a plenty of nourishment, it 
became satisfied. I returned home and related 
my tour and good success in the conveyance of 
the babe, and the satisfaction it appeared to take 
now in a new mother's bosom. This, Lucy said, 
was an act of Providence, for which she hoped 
to be thankful ; and as Lucy got no belter, I 
was advised to send thirty miles for another phy- 
sician, who succeeded no better than the former 
one in removing the cause of her complaint. I 
likewise had the advice of several old and expe- 
rienced ones, but all to no purpose. She re- 
mained sick, weak and in great pain most of the 
time. She was told by her friends that it was 
not likely she would ever recover, or arise from 
that bed of sickness ; this did not seem to affect 
her in the least. She kept up good courage, as 
she was desirous of getting well ; knowing that 
she had a large family of her own, besides 
uncle William to take care of, and much there is 
depending on a mother, bringing up her children. 
These things she took into consideration, with a 
firm belief that God would, in his wise provi- 
dence, see fit to send some means to help her ; 
and after lying in this helpless situation from 
April until July, her desires were answered. 
Doctor Warren, with his family from Boston, 
came to spend a few days with us ; and his good 
lady, having been here before and learning that 
Lucy was sick, came immediately into the room, 



rrEiTZ Mou^'TAI^'s. 167 

and seeing how she was, said she would go for 
the Doctor. He came in and examined her, but 
did not prescribe any thing for her at that time. 
He came the third time to see her and then wrote 
a prescription for her, which as soon as it was 
obtained, helped her, and in a few weeks she 
was able to be about with her family. All this 
did the Doctor, without receiving a single farth- 
incp ; for he would not accept of a compensa- 
tion for his trouble or advice, which we are still 
indebted to him for. 

Likewise we are imder many obligations to a 
number of people of Boston, for their kindness, 
their attention and presents during the summer. 

My affairs at that time began to look gloomy ; 
sickness had ever been a stranger at our house ; 
now it became an associate there. Our next 
youngest child was dangerously ill of the bowel 
complaint, and company began to shun my 
house, which was on account of the influence of 
stage drivers, as our neighbor having made some 
addition to his establi>hment, offered to keep 
their horses on hay free from any expense to 
them, if they would influence the company and 
bring the passengers to his house. Of this, I 
was verbally informed by them, but as I was 
then keeping them at a very low rate, I did not 
know how to keep them for nothing, and, of 
course, they removed their quarters. I had done 
much for them in making the place fashionable, 
which caused them to have passengers, who 
paid them handsomely for riding in their stages. 
This I thought would be enough to ensure their 
patronage, without an explanation to them. Tho 



108 HISTORY OF THE 

owner of the line had been promoted to some 
public stations, which should have insured better 
])rinci])les within his mind than to have let him 
practice upon such a low narrow contracted one, 
just for the sake of saving a trifle and try to in- 
jure me in this way, and at a time when I was 
in trouble ; but how much this added to their 
interest, or to the credit of the stage and its 
owner, I am not able to say ; but one thing 1 
know, it was an injury to me, as I depended 
upon my customers for money to pay for extra 
expenses, which I had incurred by building and 
making things good and comfortable for their 
convenience. Some people are so avaricious 
that tliey must have their own way even if it 
hurts the honest and industrious ones ever so 
much, as was the case, I think, with the one 
just mentioned. I, however, made the best I 
could of it, hired money to pay some debts, and 
other creditors I pacified with promising them 
they should have their pay as soon as possible. 
In the fall as I was returning from Lancaster, on 
horseback, in the forenoon, I called at a six 
mile neighbor's, and there borrowed a fan, for 
the purpose of clearing up some grain, and 
when coming down what is called Cherry Moun- 
tain, the horse made a miss-step, which brought 
liim on his knees ; being encumbered with the 
fan, I had not the means of saving myself and I 
v.as brought suddenly across the pommel of the 
saddle ; this struck an aflected part of my body 
and hurt me very much. The horse recovered 
himself and I regained my seat upon the saddle. 
J went home that afternoon, and assisted in fan- 



ning Uji Iwrnly I)ushclr, of wheal: stap.cling in 
llic ai?',- s'j thai the air might carry awa-y the chist 
which arofco from it, and perspiring, I took cold, 
which settled where I was most liable, and that 
night my bowels began to swell and continued to 
for three days,- and a man in greater disti'ess than 
I was, I v/ould think never need be. I. neither 
;ite more than three crackers nor slept the whole 
time, I had a high fever Which caused me to 
be thirst3\ I drank freely of cold water, which 
only increased my pain. I took physic, one por- 
tion after another, without any efiect,' I grew 
worse and- worse, until at length, I told Lucy I 
must die ; I had no desire to live in so much 
pt4n. She remonstrated with me, sayifig'I had 
been the means of bringing a large family itito 
the world,- and it v/as depending upon me for sup- 
port, and I ought not to indulge such thoughts, 
but should keep good courage, and perhaps there 
would be a relief. I asked her when ? Oh ! 
she said she could not tell when ; neither did I 
kno ,v how much I could bear until I had the trial 
put upon me. She told me to be patient and 
perhaps God, who had let me suffer, woilld in 
soAie way, cause relief. Well, I said I would 
try one more thing. I would take half a tea-cup 
full, or more, of Epson Salts, dissolved in water ; 
this was prepared and I swallowed it. JNow, 
said I, if this does- not answer the purpose, I 
must bid you and the children farewell. I 
began to pace the room ; things looked strangely, 
and I had such feelings as 1 cannot describe, if 
I :ittempt it. This did not last long before I felt 
the salts begin to operate, and I soon found relief 
15 



170 HISTORY ©F THE 

from them. As soon as I was able to ride, 1 
went to Littleton to a Physician ; told him my 
case ; he said I was a tough one and wondered 
I had lived through it, as mortification was near 
at hand at that time ; he then gave me some 
medicine and advised me to be operated upon as 
soon as I could get a Surgeon, or it might in time 
cost me my life. Other Physicians, also, told 
me the same story. This I thought I could not 
live through ; I still held the idea that I might as 
well die with it as to die while undergoing such 
an operation, for I thought it would certainly 
kill me. 

In the winter of 1835, as I had expressed 
some desire of selling my place and settling my 
affairs with the world, in consequence of ill 
health, for I was not able to do much or go from 
home but little, one night in April, there came 
a man from Bartlett to make propositions to buy 
my place. He was then going to Boston, and 
knew of a certain stage company who would 
buy it, as he thought, and, in so doing, would 
confer a favor on me. I thanked him for his 
good intentions, then went to work and bonded 
it to him for six months, for ten thousand dollars; 
this he wished to have kept a secret, for a short 
time. My father coming in, before the close of 
the business, wanted to know what the man was 
there for ; but as 1 had promised not to speak 
about it, I did not tell him. The old gentleman 
said afterwards, if I had told him or if he had 
known it, he would have advised me better. In 
a short time the great cry of speculation in 
land, was heard on all sides, and I could have 



WHITE MOUNTAINS. 171 

»old it for two thousand dollars more than I had 
bonded it for ; but as I had never been in the 
habit of making children's bargains, there should 
be no grunting on my part. 

Now to make up the place of the little one 
we had parted with the year before, (as what I 
had predicted proved true, those who had taken 
the child, unnamed, and nursed it so long, 
claimed it as their own, having no other, and we 
seemed rather compelled to give it up to them,) 
in May, we had another child born, which gave 
us ten in number, five sons and five daughters ; 
nine of them are still living. While in this 
solitary place, so far from human assistance, 
Lucy did not put her trust in an arm of flesh to 
save her, but she trusted to a higher power, and 
was carried through every trial, for which she 
has great reason to be thankful. 

The man coming home from Boston, sent me 
word that I might depend upon the money be- 
fore the time of the bond running out, and I 
made little other exertions to get money to pay 
my debts with, supposing this would be the case. 
As the bargain was so good, I thought there 
would be no failure upon his part, and depended 
upon it. He went again, and found a good com- 
pany of specidators, who had money deposited 
in a bank in Boston, and every arrangement be- 
ing made, the papers drawn, in the evening, for 
eleven thousand dollars, of which ten thousand 
was to be paid him, and he was to have a share 
with them of one thousand himself; the next 
morning, when they met again to close the bar- 
gain, no papers of the evening could be found. 



17? illSTORT Ol' TOL 

This disarieeted the company, and t^iev would 
do nothing more about it, as they supposed the 
man thought it was going so (juickly, tiiat h(; 
might have more ; tlierefore, took noccare of tho 
papers. But the man says that they v;ere -lest 
by the clerk who kept the office where they did 
their business. Which, of those two v/as the 
cause of thk mistake, I am unable to eay, but it 
was a sad one to me, as 1 had depended so 
much u})on it, and might have done so much 
better, had it not been for my reliance upon this; 
but it seems to show the uncertaiaty of man and 
how little depcndance can be placed even on 
those we think our friends.. I always thought 
tills man my friend, having been acquainted with 
him for years; but so it happened, and there 
was no help tor it on my part. All the particu- 
lars of this transaction, I was informeti of by 
one of the company which thought of buying. 
J asked the man to give me the bond, which he 
said I might have, bat I could not get it. He 
then told me he would try again to sell it, and 
still thought that 'ho could dispose of it advan- 
tageously both to himself and to me ; but this 
was all a humbug. He still kept the bond, until 
it died in his hands. He, however, lost nothing 
more than his time and trouble, with the excep- 
tion of what he intended, to make, as he had not 
paid me any thing for it. 

During the summer we had a goodly share of 
company, notwithstanding tlie stage driver^' in- 
lluence, and that of some tavern-keepers, who 
were interested in this concerted |:lan of leading 
company to the wrong place; and many wiiom 



WHITE MOUNTAINS. 173 

they did decoy came to my house, and said they 
were misled and should not be caught again in 
that way ; but as I was then suffering with the 
complaint before mentioned, I felt little ambition 
about the proceeding of things, at times ; but let 
them do pretty much as they did ; and at other 
times I felt the abuse, and then tried to vindi- 
cate my own rights, but this I could not carry 
into effect, owing to the state of my mind, as 
this complaint centered in its effects, mostly to 
my head. 

After this, I strived to sell, but the fever of 
speculation had then begun to abate, and I could 
not get more offered for it than enough to pay 
what I was then owing, which was not as much 
as the buildings had cost ; this I could not in 
conscience take, as the place was actually worth 
so much more. So we continued to slay longer 
and do the best we could. 

My complaint increased, at times troubling 
me very much, and this winter, 1836, I was 
advised to send to Concord and obtain some of 
Dr. MorriPs patent medicine, which was cele- 
brated for effecting great cures ; I was told that 
perhaps it might reach my case. I wrote to 
him, and in return, received the medicine, with 
directions — these I followed as nearly as pos- 
sible, but it only made me w^orse, instead of 
better, having a tendency to heat and stimulate, 
which was contrary to the manner that my com- 
plaint should have been treated ; yet I did not 
not think any one w^as to blame in the matter. 
My friends being anxious that I should get well, 
said I must keep trying, and if one thing would 
15* 



174 HISTORY OF THE 

viot do, try uiiolhcr ; this 1 did, but all \o no \)ur- 

f'OSC 

This v.inter, tis deer had becomo jdeiity in tiic 
•vvoocJs, many parties went in ])ursuit of them ; 
?aid my eldest son (Harvy) jjosscssing the same 
disposition as others, desired to go with them, 
but as his constitution was not equal to that ol" 
others, I did not consent to have him go with 
them. 

In March, a gentleman came to my house, 
wlio had -been traveling some y"t3ars, and his 
horse being weary, he concluded to stay a iltw 
days and rest him. He being a sportsman, soon 
contracted for a little fun with Harvey ; and as I 
.had ever been against his going into the woods 
V- ith others, I then concluded to let him go. 

They were prepared, accordingly, and in the 
^afternoon set out. They steered nearly south 
(5i my house, and went u[) the green hill where 
deer were plenty, and having arrived there in 
season, built them a can^p, and spent the night 
linely, as they expxessed it. Early in the morn- 
ing before they had breakfasted, not being ex- 
perienced hiniters^ as they were anxious to find 
what they were in pursuit of, they left their lodg- 
ings and victuals all together, and went out upon 
a tour of observation or discovery, intending to 
return and breakfast shortly. After leaving the 
camp, the dog went into a yard of deer, and 
followed them, and they found there was no time 
to be lost and were obliged to pursue, fast as 
possible, on snow-shoes, or they would lose both 
dog and deer. They soon came up wiih the 
dog, who had a deer; they cut hi? Lliroat and 



WIHTE MOUNTAINS. 175 

took out his inwards and left him there. Tim 
dog pursued othei-s in a sitiiikir niaiiner.and tliey 
caught three of them. By tliis time liunger be- 
gan to call loudly upon them, and as they had 
been in a hurry, unmindful of the course they 
had taken, they were so bewildered among the 
hills, they were not sure what course to take to 
make for home. They, however, struck upon a 
small stream and followed it down to the Am- 
anoosuc river, nearly three miles below my 
house, leaving their game behind, tired and hun* 
gry enough. 

The next morning I observed to them it was 
not customary for hunteiib to leave their game in 
the woods to spoil, and thought they had better 
go and bring theirs in, or else we s4iould have to 
take their word for what they had done. The 
gentleman said he was satisfied to let his part 
remain where it then was, rather than go the 
route over again. He had a pleasant time and 
a lucky one^ in hunting, found himself at home, 
he w^as.then on good footing, and thought he 
would keep so. But as Harvey had for so long 
time, been wanting to hunt, 1 told him he must 
go and bring home his game ; and after getting 
rested he took a hired man and went after it. 
He not being yet satisfied, thought he would 
wander about, and, perhaps might find a deer — 
one that he covdd catch and lead home alive, as 
i had done. Tl^ south wind bcgining to blow 
strong, and the clouds coming on, it was dark 
before they were aware of it, and they could not 
find the camp, where they intended to spend the 
night, which camp had been built but two daya 



176 HISTORY OF THE 

before, and in consequence of the darkness, they 
were lost, and could find no other shelter than a 
a large hemlock tree. They had barely the 
means of obtahiing fire and that was all. Their 
axe, provisions, and very thing conducive to 
their comfort were at the camp, while they were 
compelled to stay and draw out a long night, in 
that season of the year. The wind blowing 
violently made the trees writh and bend on all 
sides of them. The rain descended in great 
profussion upon them, and they had nothing to 
shelter them from the impending storm. But 
they were fortunate in getting fire in a dry tree, 
which was some satisfaction, but not much com- 
fort to them, as all the good this did was to burn 
one side while the other was shivering with the 
wet and cold. The snow being deep they had 
nothing to stand upon besides their snow-shoes, 
and in this perilous condition they spent a long 
night. They said it was the longest one they 
ever knew. They suffered greatly from fear of 
being killed by falling trees, as they fell occa- 
sionally near them, — but the same Preserver 
who takes care of them in sunshine, cared for 
them then, and they were permitted to behold 
the light of another morning with gladness, and 
in a few minutes they found the camp, but a 
little way from where they had spent such a 
miserable night. They then provided, them- 
selves with a comfortable breakfast, and after 
resting awhile, stated for home. They had the 
preceding day gathered some of the venison 
and tried to bring it home, but the snow was so 
deep and soft, their snow-shoes would sink dee]), 



WniTE j\l() L.N TAINS. Ill 

and it v.as with difficulty they could raise them, 
mid thfiy were obliged to leave it there and make 
their best way home, whei'e they were welcom- 
ed : and, I thinlv, parents were. never more re- 
jeiced than we werc when w'e saw Harvey com- 
mg across the lield,-«s our anxiety had been so 
great through the night that neither of us had 
slept. After -that I %vas not troubled any more 
from being teased by him for want of hunting. 
H>e w-as now satisfied. 

But to retiarn -again ''to m\^elf. Sometimes 
I would seem to be quite well, and then I di<l 
not mind my sickness so much as at other tinx's: 
then there would a pain catch me in the spir^e of 
my back, and run over me like a flash at' light- 
ning, even to the top of my head, and ^vei-y 
hair would seem to move. Many times T' hav<j 
put my hand to the top of my head and'lelt the 
hair to know^ if it did not stand straight on end, 
as I could feel it rise, and sometimes would thii'ik 
it would throw off my hat. The pain from my 
back centered to my head, which caused me to 
be forgetful. They who had ever been my 
ncarest and best fdends, had become my ene- 
mies, as it appeared to iiie, and from no other 
cause than my being sick, and in trouble, when 
I most needed consolation, and this cciusfK:l me 
sometimes to be irrhablc which was not -exactly 
my natural disposition, but Iknew not how to 
liclp it then. My appetite -was gone and" I was 
attended by a cough and aiPiicted by raising* 
great quantities of phlegm ; my blood was re- 
duced, and I would have extremes of heat and 
cold pass through my veins, ono nCwv another. 



178 niSTORT OF THE 

Sometimes in the morning, I would think I 
could get up and should be smart that day ; but 
after getting up and only walking in another 
room, I would begin to shiver with the cold, and 
have to go to bed again, and have my pillows 
"svarmed and have them placed on my back, and 
blankets warmed and put upon me ; in this way 
I lived by turns, until 1 was returning from Con- 
way in the Stage, having been dowr> on business 
in ccmpany with Dr. Bemis, from Boston, and 
some other gentlemen beside him when I was 
attacked with this complaint, and had, in the 
stage, two spasm, which required the strength of 
a man to hold me. This sudden and unexpected 
shock was below my father^s, and I did not then 
think I should live to get home ; but I meant to 
go along as I could. I had the kindest assist- 
ance from the gentlemen in the stage, and ar- 
rived at home where I soon after had another 
spasm. Lucy sent immediately for a Physician, 
who arrived and took away a portion of blood, 
which soon relieved me. This kind and humane 
Dr. Bemis, who was then staying at my house, 
became acquainted with Dr. Rodgers, from New 
York, who had previously, before he started, 
been^ directed to put up with me, but was influ- 
enced by some other persons to stop with my 
neighbor. Dr. Bemis informed Dr. Rodgers of 
my situation, and he came to see me, told me 
unless I would consent to have an operation, I 
could not live long, as the consumption was near 
upon me ; said he would go and get his instru- 
ments while another Physician who was with him 
should stop and make preparations for the same. 



WHITE MOUNTAINS. 179 

riiis, I did not consent to, neither did I refuse it. 
rhe Doctor returned in a short time, and due 
(reparations being made, went up stairs with 
liem, when the operation was performed. How 
stimable is the character of a good Physician, 
•r of any really good man ! While " man's in- 
lumanity to man makes countless thousands 
nourn," so the kind ministrations of man to 
nan, proves that God gives us in charge of his 
ngels. 

I then came down with them and soon found 
elief. I now could sit in a chair much better 
han for months before. The Doctor came and 
ressed my wound several times himself, and 
ben showed another person how to manage it, 
nd when he took his leave, I asked him how 
luch I :^hould pay him ? He said not any thing ; 
lit he expressed a desire for me to get well ; 
nd for this act of kindness I am indebted to Dr. 
Jemis for his interceding as he did in my be- 
alf, and Dr. Rodgers, for his assistance. I am 
/e\{ persuaded, had it not been for them, I should 
ot now have been here a living man. Times 
ad now become hard and my creditors who had 
,'aited on me were afraid they should not get 
leir pay, because my dissolution, as they 
lought, was near at hand, and in the course of 
le preceding summer, they had come upon me 
ke a set of armed men. I turned out all my 
ersonal property, even to the last cow, and some 
rticles I turned out three times. I was after- 
wards informed, but the state of my mind was 
uch owing to the pain in my head, I was not 
ensible of what I did, and in the fall, before I 



ISO HlSTOItY OF THE 

was able to get about much, a Deputy Sheri fT 
came from Lanociste« for' me to pay a sum of 
three hundrc d dollars, which I was- owing the 
Banky and one. i^iorc demand due a farmer for 
atnjut forty dolloxs, principal ; but as he had 
taken care not to have it redu<?e<d by interest 
and cos;, w])ich he had- caused to be doubled, I 
told him I had then n-othing to pay with, but de- 
sired him. to bo patient, as they vve^re not sufier- 
ing for- the money, and they and every other 
creditor should have their honest dues, if they 
would only show me lenity. He then left me 
after obtaining a proi^isc, on ray< part, that as> 
soon as. I was- able to ride I would .^-o to Lancas- 
ter and s€;e them myself; and some days after, 
according to promise, I went, and what do you 
think those men did ? Why, for want thereof, 
took my poor and emaciated bQ,dy and cast it 
into prison. Althoiigh a brother of mine and 
one of Lucy's, offered to give them bonds for' 
my appearance at any time wh(?>never they 
should call for me ; but this did not seem to par-- 
cify them \ they were d^t-grmine'd upon other 
purposes ; their object W8us saoneyand they re- 
fused to take them. I was put in jail and this 
place was to me a complete hell uj^jon earth, 
now shut up from air and the society of my be- 
loved family. My mind was weak and the time 
hanging heavily, forced me to reflect on human 
nature ; this overcame me, and I was obliged to 
call for the advice of physicians and a nurse. 
Here I was attended with a sort of spasms^ simi- 
lar to the former ones, and was really so unwell 
that one of my physicians atfectionately tol<i 



WHITE MOUNTAT>!S. 



ISl 



mo lie thought I sliuuld never pass the Gun hill 
that was near tlie burying ground ; that was as 
much as to say I should die. He then asked 
me if they should not send for Lucy. I tohl 
him, no ; it was enough for me to be there and 
not her. Here they kept me twenty-five days 
in this way. I had applied to an Attorney before 
I went in to make arrangements for me to take 
the benefit of the law, in such cases made and 
provided, and when the time arrived they told 
me J. could not do it, without perjuring myself. 
I told them something should be done, for I 
v/ould stay there no longer. They then con- 
cluded to take our brothers for sureties and let 
me go home. This added nothing to their in- 
terest, nehher did it help them immediately to 
their pay. They were secured before. I had 
good signers with me on the notes and my farm 
Avas holden, but when a man gets going down 
hill, it matters not what shape it is in ; there are 
enough standing ready to give him a kick and 
hejp him down. They have since got their pay, 
but the tanner dares not look me in the face and 
say, How do you do ? but passes by as soon as 
convenient ; they Avill have to answer to their 
Judge. As Lucy wrote to him in the most af- 
fectionate terms entreating him in the name of 
a husband and a father, to go and see me and 
advise some means to let me come home, and 
sent it by the hand of her son, who handed it to 
him ; he read the contents and put the letter in 
his pocket, and never came near me, till the day 
that I was set at liberty. 

Having been for so longr a time racked with 
16 



185J ins;TOKY of thb 

pain, and having now these troubles, I did not 
seem to get much better of my complaint, and 
was advised by some friends and my family to 
give up my farm and retire to a more secluded 
spot where health might be regained, and ac- 
cordingly, for that present time, changed situa- 
tions, with a brother of Lucy's, and moved to 
Guildhall, in Vermont, the place of our nativity. 
Before we left we sent to those men to whom 
I had mortgaged my farm, to come and take pos- 
session of it, which they did, and I suppose, in a 
lawful manner, put up an advertisement in the 
house to sell it on the 16th of March, 1837. It 
was then subject to two mortgages, uncle Will- 
iams' was one and the other was their's. The 
amount of their's was to be made known at the 
time of sale ; but as it appeared, no one came to 
buy, therefore they had the whole management 
of the affair to themselves. At this time Lucy 
was there and I expressed a regret to leave the 
place where we had performed so much hard 
labor and had done every thing to make the 
mountain scenery to become fashionable, and had 
just got in a way to make ourselves comfortable 
and to be able to make our friends feel at home. 
It was hard to give it all up and let it go into the 
hands of others. And one of them made her this 
reply, saying, fifty years hence, it will be as 
in old time, there would be those rise up who 
knew not Joseph, and it would not then be 
known who did all these things. They then 
rented it for one year, and at the expiration of 
that year rented it again to the same man, for 
five hundred dollars per annum. 



WHITK MOU.^TAIX*. 183 

While we were at Guildhall, as there was a 
sugar lot on the farm, I thought I would make 
sugar that spring, with the help of my little 
bovs, and as Lucy was always anxious about 
me, when absent, particularly then on account 
of my health and misfortunes, 1 happening one 
nigiit to stay away later than usual, she thought 
something might have befallen me, as I had only 
one boy with me, and -after putting her children 
to rest, at nine o"'clock, took a lantern and steered 
for the woods ; but n-ever having been there be- 
fore, she lost her way and was actually under 
the necessity of calling for help. The boy 
having amused himself peeling birch bark, while 
I was engaged in boiling sap, we put some of 
this dry bark on the end of a pole which was 
long, set it on fire, and raised it .up so high in 
the air that she saw it and then came to us and 
stayed until we could all go home 'together where 
v/e arrived at eleven o'clock. 

We remained on this place ten months, where 
we raised barely enough to support our family, 
and as Lucy's brother must lease our farm at 
the mountains, it being put into other hands, he 
was then wanting his own to live on, and I went 
down the Connecticut river one mile, and en- 
gaged a large two story dwelling house, which 
was then unoccupied, for the farm had been 
rented to its nearest neighbor, and I obtained 
the use of it until April, when his lease would 
run out. Sometime this winter, a gentleman, by 
the name of Jonathan Tucker, Esq., came from 
Saco, Maine, who had an execution against the 
ib rm T v.-n? then living upon, and the Mar-H-^i 



184 lllSTOllY or Til 15 

the State came also, and set off, to tiiis Mr. 
Tucker, nearly fifty acres of the best part of the 
land, with the barn. This is the very place 
Avhere our Grandmother lived when she had so 
much trouble with the Indians. I have tilled the 
same ground where their little log cabiD used to 
stand, which was near the bunk of the river. 
Afterwards, they or others built upon higher 
ground. When this land was set off, I asked 
Mr. Tucker if I might have the privilege of im- 
proving it ? He told me to stay and do the best 
I could, and if it were redeemed he should have 
nothing more to do with it, and the Defendant in 
the case had six months for redemption ; if it 
were not redeemed, I could have a living from 
it. According to human nature, in these days, 
reader, how do you think this man let us live 
here after the redemption ran out ? I wrote him 
an account of our management and asked him 
if I might pay the lawyer who had assisted in 
obtaining this land ? He said I might. Thus 
we lived upon this beautiful farm, while we had 
the privilege of raising every kind oi grain and 
vegetable, such as corn, rye, oats, peas, beans, 
potatoes ; and we had a first rate garden, sur- 
rounded with currants, gooseberries and plums ; 
and as the river went round this meadow in a 
semi-circle and made a bow in some places, there 
was capital fishing, where my boys could catch 
a plenty of pickerel, some trout, dace, eels, &c. 
This made quite a market place, as these fish 
mad(; grand living when cooked with good salt 
pork. And here we could send our children to 



WHITE MOUNTAINS. 



185 



Bchool, six and seven months in a year. One 
winter we furnished the school with nine scholars, 
our own children, for which we received the 
credit of the Committee, for as the law was, 
every scholar drew a proportion of the public 
money, and the more scholars there were, the 
longer the school continued. We likewise had 
every privilege which is comnoon in towns, such 
as meetings for Divine worship and a good so- 
ciety among our own relatives and friends. As 
we had always been used to labor ourselves, we 
instructed our children when quite young, to 
be diligent in whatever they could do ; and this 
seemed to be a great help to them as they could 
earn their own living, and being accustomed to 
work at home, they were not ashamed to go 
abroad ; and when they wete not at school, 
those of them that could be spared from the 
farm and dairy, for we had cows and made but- 
ter and cheese, could support themselves at home 
or abroad, respectably ; while I could do mason 
work, as I had assisted in helping plaster my own 
buildings and learned how to make mortar, and 
could, then, spread it well, and I could earn my 
dollar per day when I worked at my trade ; and 
in this and similar ways, according to the cus- 
toms of New England, we lived on this beauti- 
fut farm, by paying the taxes and keeping the 
buildings in repair, which we consider to be an 
act of benevolence from this Mr. Tucker, and 
for which we will return our gratitude. There 
are but few men in these days who would do so 
much even for a relative, without some direct 
16^^ 



186 IIIgTOUV or TllL 

compensation from him, if noliiing inure lliaii a 
promise, for which he never made me a request. 
But the fifth year a lawyer Avho hved in Lan- 
caster, bv some means obtained a lease of the 
place and we were obliged to give him half we 
raised on this piece of land belonging to Mr. 
Tucker. There seemed to be quite a contrast 
now, after living in the way just described and 
now obliged to go halves with this lawyer, whicli 
did not exactly suit my family, working hard as 
usual, when they had the whole before. 

In 1843, I hired the large three story building, 
which was then empty, in sight of where we had 
lived twenty years, at the mountains, and here 
we are at the present time, in 1845. 

It may be an inquiry, How these things have 
become to be written ? Lucy had been advised 
to keep a memorandum of things as they oc- 
curred, for there seemed to be something very 
extraordinary in our affairs in life, which was an 
inducement for her laljor, in which she has taken 
great pleasure, in order to h^ able to show the 
public our way of trying to get a living, by deal- 
ing honestly with men, and having a clean con- 
science as regards my management with man- 
kind. Moreover, the men to whom I had given 
up my farm, said they were willing for us to have 
it again, by our refunding them whatever they 
had paid out, with the interest and cost, provided 
Lucy would publish this history, which, after 
being published, she could sell and it would be 
an assistance ; and as we were then retired from 
the cares of other people and had nothing but 
our own fumilv to look after, she found tim'\ 



WHITE iMOl.XTAlNS. 



187 



It is the request of some of my friends to have 
a genealogy of my father's family. Abel Craw- 
ford is now eighty years of age, when this year, 
1845, shall have passed away, and he was the 
first man that ever rode a horse on the top of 
Mount Washington. He was then aged seventy - 
live, and is now a well, stout, athletic man, ca- 
pable of doing work and business. My mother, 
who was Hannah Rosebrook, is in her seventy- 
fourth year, enjoying tolerably good health, after 
having raised a family of nine children. Eras- 
tus, their eldest son, was born in 1791, and grew 
up a large, stout and tall man, six feet six inches 
high, when standing barefoot, and after he was 
twenty-one, he went into the State of New York, 
and lived and married, and his wife had two 
sons, and then he died there in 1825 ; and these 
two sons of his are now nearly the same height 
their father was when he was living. Ethan 
Allen is my name, and I am fifty-three, with 
much better health than when I left the moun- 
tains. Stephen was born in 1796, and he died 
when he was fifteen years of age, with the con- 
sumption. Everett has a ^yife and four children, 
three sons and one daughter, and lives in Jeffer- 
son, New Hampshire. Dearborn lives in Ox- 
ford, New Hampshire, has a wife who has borne 
him ten children, six daughters and four sons. 
Thomas J. lives at the Notch House, which 1 
built in 1828, with his wife and four children, all 
of them daughters. Hannah H. is married to 
Nathaniel T. P. Davis, and they live in Hart's 
Location, with my parents; who have lived there 



18S BISTORT OF THE 

fifty years ; she has two children, both daugh 
ters. Abel J. lias a wife and one child, a son 
and lives in Jetierson, N. H. William H 
Harrison, still lives at home with Mr. Davis, en 
Joying life at his ease, without any care or trou 
ble of a family, living in a "■ state of single 
blessedness." Uncle WiUiam Rosebrook, who 
was spoken of in the first part of this history, is 
seventy-two years of age, and still lives with us, 
enjoying good health. He never was married. 
Lucy, my wife, has had ten children, five sons 
and five daughters. Harvey Howe, not having 
a strong constitution, learned the art of making 
wagons, and has gone into the State of Ohio. 
Our second son died when an infant. Lucy 
Laurilla, Ellen Wile, Eluthera Porter, Ethan, 
Stephen, Persis Julia, Placentia Whidden and 
William, make out our number. 

And now my friends, who have a little time to 
spare, or whose health is impaired, come to the 
mountains and make us a visit. You will find 
us here, and there shall be no pains spared to 
make your time pass pleasantly during your stay 
with us, either in waiting on you or giving you 
all the information in our power, and, as of old, 
what we lack in substance we will endeavor to 
make up in good will. We gratefully return 
our warmest thanks for the public patronage 
which we formerly received, while at the moun- 
tain ; and we still hope by our united exertions 
\o continue to merit. And when you get to 
Conway, if coming in that direction, you will find 
excellent treatment yi a Temperance Housq 



WHITE MOUNTAlJiS. 189 

kept by Colonel Hill, the Postmaster, where you 
will have entered the mountain scenery, and 
where, in fair weather, you will see the ranges 
of hills, or mountains, rising one above another 
along the way, and when passing, reflect on the 
mighty works of God and think what the labor 
of man, in a few years, has accomplished. 

The town of Conway, situate about twenty 
miles south of the White Mountains, began to be 
settled about the year 1776, by emigrants from 
Conway, Durham, Lee and the adjoining towns. 
The glowing accounts which the hunters gave 
of the extensive tracts of interval bordering on 
the Saco river, wdiich runs through the same, the 
fertility of the soil, the exuberance of its forests, 
especially its sugar maples and white pines, to- 
gether with its numerous wild animals and fowls, 
ail conspired to facilitate its settlement. At the 
close of the Revolutionary war, in 1783, Con- 
way had become more numerously settled than 
almost any other inland town, of its age and size, 
in New Hampshire. Its early inhabitants, how- 
ever, were obliged to endure great hardships in 
conveying their furniture and provisions through 
a wilderness of sixty miles in extent upon pack- 
horses and hand-sleds. 

They soon began the lumber business, by 
floating logs and masts down the Saco to its 
mouth, where they received bread ^tufl" and 
other necessaries of life in exchange ; the moose 
and deer, at the same time, affording them a 
tolerably supply of wild meat, and their white 
and rock maple trees, an abundance of excellent 



190 HISTORY or THK 

sugar. The rivers and ponds were also well 
stored with wild geese, ducks and fish, of various 
kinds. In consequence of these conveniences, 
the rickness of its soil and its healthy climate, 
Conway has now become a very pleasant town, 
dotted with several handsome villages and con- 
taining about two thousand inhabitants. 

Colonel David Page, Joshua Heath, Ebenezer 
Burbank, John and Josiah Doloff, were the first 
who moved with their families to Conway. They 
came by the way of vSaco, in the State of Maine, 
thence up the river and across Lovewell's Pond, 
to the Seven Lots (so called) in Fryeburg, 
which town adjoins Conway, and had commenced 
settling in 1764, by Moses Ames, Esq. and six 
other families. 

It was at the head of this pond, whicn lies 
about two miles East of Conway, that Capt. 
Lovewell and his Company, fought their san- 
guinary battle with Capt. Paugusand his Indians, 
on the 8th of I\Iay, 1725, and in which, both 
Commanders and three fourths of their men, 
were slain, consisting at the commencement, 
of thirty-four Euglishmen and eighty savages. 
These Indians belonged to the Pequaket Tribe, 
inhabiting the country from the Notch of the 
White Mountains to the Great Falls, on the Saco 
river, about sixty miles in extent, which has 
borne the general name of Pequaket, ever since, 
from that circumstance. The town of Bartlett, 
lying between Conway and the Notch of the 
White IVlountains, originally consisted of several 
locations, granted to \Villiam Stark, Verc Koyce 



WHITE MOUNTAINS. 



\m 



and others, in consideration of their services as 
officers in the French war in Canada.- Enoch 
Emery, Humphrey Emery and Nathaniel Her- 
riman, hegan their settlement in lower Bartlett, 
just befor the commencement of the Revolution- 
ary war ; their land being given them by Capt. 
Stark, for settling. In 1777, Samuel Willey, 
Esq., Daniel Fox and Paul Jills, from Lee, pur- 
chased a tract of land, in upper Bartlett, and 
commenced clearing the same. Their horses- 
which they had turned into an adjoining meadow 
to graze, became dissatisfied with their new loca- 
tion, together with their manner of living, and 
started lor home. Instead of following the wind- 
ings of the Saco in the path they went up, they 
struck off in a straight line. In crossing the 
first intervening mountain, it is supposed they 
became separated and consequently bewildered.- 
Diligent search was made for them but all in 
vain. The next spring a hunter's dog brought 
part of a horse's leg into the road in Conway.- 
From a particular mark on the shoe attached to 
the foot, it was ascertained to have belonged to 
Mr. Willey's horse. On following the dog's 
track, about sixty rods from the road, the carcass 
was found. From the appearance of the large 
extent of bushes browsed, it was concluded that 
the horse lived till some time in March. None 
of the rest of the horses were ever heard oL 
Mr. Willey, not liking his situation in Bartlett, 
sold his land there soon after the loss of his 
horse, and purchased an original right in Con- 
way, where he lived an independent farmer, 



192 HISTORY OF THE 

until his death on the 14th of June, 1844, iit the 
age of ninety-one years — being the last original 
male inhabitant of that town. An anecdote of 
liim is considered worth relating here. Owing 
to the scarcity of provisions among the early set- 
tlers and the vigilance of the hunters, moose and 
deer soon became scarce ; but bears remained 
numerous for a long time and are yet somewhat 
plenty. These animals often proved an intoler- 
able nuisance to the farmers, destroying their 
sheep, hogs and other creatures. One night in 
the summer of 1800, Mr. Willey was waked 
from his sleep by the noise of his sheep running 
furiously by his house. Springing from his bed 
to a window, he discovered by the light of the 
moon, an enormous bear in close pursuit of 
them. Calling his eldest son, instantly, then a 
stout boy about fourteen years old, they sallied 
forth with their gun, and nothing on but their 
night clothes, to pursue this fell destroyer. By 
this time the sheep had made a turn and were 
coming, pell mell, toward the house with the 
bear at their heels. Secreting themselves a mo- 
ment until the sheep had passed, Mr. AVilley 
sprang forth with his gun to salute his ursalean 
majesty. Old bruin, stopping to see what his 
ghostly visitor meant, was instantly fired at and 
severely wounded. Mr. Willey and his boy, 
with their axes, offered him a closer combat, and 
he readily accepted the challenge. After two or 
three charges they considered it the better part 
of valor to retreat to the house, which they did, 
closely pursued by the bear. While thev were 



WHITE MOUNTAINS. 19S 

in the house reloading their gun, the enraged ani- 
mal went round to a back window, through 
which he endeavored to enter the house, to be 
revenged of his antagonists. The room adjoining 
being dark, and Mrs. Willey supposing the bear 
to be on t\ie other side of the house, in attempt- 
ing to look out through the window, put her 
head within a few inches of his nose. On dis- 
covering her perilous situation, she gave one of 
those piercing female shrieks which make the 
welkin ring, and fell back on the floor. By this 
time they had reloaded their gun and now issued 
forth to renew the combat. But owing to the 
bad state of the powder, they were unable to 
fire the gun again. Perceiving the bear to be 
gaining strength, and now showing signs of an 
intention to retreat to the woods, after a few mo- 
ments' consultation, they determined to make 
another desperate effort to kill him with their 
axes. Mr. Willey, after receiving strong assu- 
rances from his boy that he would stand by him, 
approached the bear a second time, and by one 
well directed blow on his head, felled him to the 
ground. 

After passing Conway you will come into 
Bartlett, and I will give you some account of the 
early settlements there, as I received them from 
Richard Garland, Esq., in his eighty-second 
year. His intellect and memory is good now in 
his advanced age, and he says that in December, 
1783, he was one inhabitant among five who 
came into that location, and that there were but 
few inhabitants for a distance of thirty-six miles, 
17 



194 HISTORY OF THB 

mostly woods, seventy-five miles from Dover, 
where they had to go for their provisions ; and 
then they had them to draw on a hand-sleigh, in 
the winter, over a little bushed path, without a 
bridge : and the Roule, in Conway, when the 
streams were open, went down the Saco river 
in boats, or rather canoes, which they made out 
of a large tree by digging it out and making it 
large enough to carry several hundred weight, 
and when they came to a place where the falls 
prevented their passing, they would unlade their 
boats and carry their provisions and boat until 
they came to a smooth place again* At one 
time the inhabitants got out of provisions and 
sent for new supplies, and there came on a 
heavy rain, and the Saco river was risen to 
that height, they could not get back for some 
time, and those they left of their families, had 
to stint themselves to live on seven potatoes 
per diem, until their return with provisions. 
After some years this Mr. Garland had got a 
small piece of land cultivated, and it then 
needed ploughing, and two of his neighbors 
offered him a team, if he could get a plough ; 
he then went seven miles and borrowed the 
nearest one, in the morning, brought it home on 
his back, and his neighbor used it for him ; 
while he the same day did a great day's work, 
at piUng timber ; and, at noon, he went one and 
a half miles and bought fifty pounds of hay to 
feed his team on, and this hay he carried home 
on his back, and at night he carried this same 
plough home on his own back which made him 



WHlTfi MOUNTAiNS. 195 

thirty-one miles, and half the distance with a 
load, besides doing a good day's work, and 
then, as he says, was welcomed to partake of the 
bounties which a kind wife had provided, and 
then could sit down in their humble cot with her 
and their family of young children, without fear 
or trouble. As they at that period began to 
raise enough to support their families, they had 
only seventeen miles to go to mill, and in the 
winter God provided them with a good bridge of 
ice, and in the summer they crossed in canoes 
the Saco river. His family in those days, as the 
old gentleman says, was a happy one ; but he did 
not realize it then as he now does, while he can 
look back to that time when he would work hard 
all day, and, at night, come in and take his sup- 
per, and then he would in the evening return to 
his work ; and his wife, after putting her child- 
ren to rest, would go out with him and pick u}) 
the small brush and keep him a good light to 
work by, until nine o'clock ; she then would go 
in and make us a cup of tea, which we could 
partake of together, and then we could retire to 
rest, happy in our humble engagements, trying 
to get an honest living. 

In 1790, in the month of June, Pequacket 
being incorporated into towns ; Bartlett was in- 
corporated, under Governor Bartlett, and called 
after his name. In August, they had a town 
meeting and chose town officers. Jonathan Tas- 
ker, tirst selectman ; John Pende.xter, second ; 
Thomas Spring, third ; Richard Garland, first 
constable and collector of taxes in Bartlett. The 



196 HISTORY or THE 

next winter they had a school ; Moses Bigelow 
was the in'st teacher of this school, of about fif- 
teen schools, and now they have their large 
schools, which will average, in the year 1844, 
over one hundred and fifty scholars, and they 
have one hundred and fifty voters in this small 
valley amidst these mountains. There was a 
time when one of these inhabitants had got en- 
tirely out of meat, and came to this Mr. Garland 
for some to carry into the woods, while he went 
and found some moose to make meat for his fam- 
ily. Mr. Garland gave him half he had him- 
self, and then the man steered along for the 
woods, and in a few days, he returned as rich as 
any man could be seemingly with news of having 
killed light moose, fine and fat. He then gave 
Mr. Garland three hundred pounds of this meat, 
provided he would take a hand-sleigh and go 
bring in in, which he did, and he now says that 
a bigger man never need be than he was then 
with this supply, great as it was, of meat. As 
they had began to make a road, some people in 
Portland offered to give any man a barrel of 
rum, if he would get it up through the Notch, and 
Capt. Rosebrook volunteered his services, went 
to Bartlett with his horse and car, and on the 
other side of the Saco made a raft, rolled on 
this proffered barrel, and then stood in water up 
to his knees, and with a long pole pushed it 
across ; he then, with the assistance of others, 
this Mr. Garland was one, put it upon his car 
and carried it up through the Notch, at least jas 
much of it as was left through the politeness of 



WHITK .MOUNTAINS. 



197 



those who helped manage the atVair. Tliis was 
the first article brouglvt up through where the 
road goes now, and the first article of loading 
ever "brought down, was a barrel of tobacco, 
raised in Lancaster, by one Titus Brown, and the 
road was so crooked, they were forced to cross 
the stream, as Mr. Garland says, thirty-two times 
to get from Bartlett to the top of the Notch, 
where now is the Notch House and the Post 
Office, where Thomas J. Crawford now lives. 
The first white child born in Conway, was Jere- 
miah Lovejoy, eighty-two years ago. Leaving 
Conway you will pass along through Bartlett 
till you come to Hart's Location. This was 
located to Thomas Chadbourne, by Governor 
Wentworth, under the crown of Great Britain, 
for services rendered by Chadbourne in the old 
Indian wars, and was called Chadbourne's loca- 
tion. Chadbourne sold it to Richard Hart, for 
$1500, and then the name was changed to 
Hart's Location. Then you will come against 
Sawyer's Rock, which com.es down near the 
river, so that there is just room for the road ; and 
this derived its name from the circumstance of 
Nash and Sawyer, when they first were bushing 
the path for a horse to travel in, through the 
Notch ; they got down as far as here, and camped 
for the night, and in the morning they emptied 
their junk bottle of its contents, and Sawyer 
broke it against the rock, and gave it the name 
of Sawyer's Rock, and it has ever since borne 
that name. And this was the first Temperance 
meeting on the Saco river, or, so far as my re- 



.198 HlSTOllY or THE 

membrance is concerned, in history, in liie 
AVhite Mountains. 

Some time after this there were two men rid- 
ing on horseback, by the names of Blake and 
Moidton, and they saw near the rock two moose 
at play. They sprang from they horses and 
frightened them. They attempted to jump the 
rock, but the men having the advantage, caught 
one of them by the hind leg, and with a jack- 
knite, cut off liis heel cords, and hamstrung him. 
They then went up and cut his throat ; and as 
they were travelers and had not the means of 
saving the meat, they went down to Bartlett, and 
gave it to the inhabitants, who were glad to re- 
ceive it. This happened, father thinks, forty 
years ago. 

There are in this Location eight voters and 
twenty-six children under sixteen years of age, 
and they had a school house built in 1844. It 
accommodates only four familes, on account of 
the distance they live apart, and the rest have to 
board their children from home, if they give 
them a chance for a school. 

Then you will come up to my father's. Here 
the stage stops and changes horses. Here the 
traveler may stop for a time, if he chooses, as 
Mr. Davis, last season, made a horse path from 
his house to the top of Mount Washington. This 
was done with considerable expense to him, and 
for no other reason, than to accommodate those 
who miglit prefer going from there on the moim- 
tains, as they had several line views in going 
that way. He charges the same as others do 



WHITE MOUNTAINS. 199 

for guiding travelers up the mountains. Gen- 
tlemen and ladies also can ascend. Then you 
will, after leaving father's, come to what is call- 
ed tJie Old Notch House, which place was set- 
tled, uncle William says, about fifty-three years 
ago, by one Mr. Davis, who first began there. 
Since which period, others have lived there for 
a short time, until Samuel Willey bought the 
place, and repaired it. He with his family lived 
there, till that dreadful night hi August, when 
all were destroyed by the great storm, described 
in the [foregoing pages ; then John Pendexter 
built the barn, and that stands there still, and he 
improved it. Others have lived there, by turns, 
until last season Mr. Fabyan made thorough re- 
pairs, both on the house and stable, and this sea- 
son he has built a new frame for a house, sev- 
enty feet by forty, for himself, when by next 
season, he may be prepared for company that 
visiting the mountains, wish to spend a portion 
of their time at the Willey House. This place 
which is now nothing but sand and gravel, was 
over a beautiful valley, covered with maple, and 
there used to be a great quantity of sugar made 
there. And then you will come up through the 
Notch to Thomas Crawford's, called the Notch 
House. He has a road to the mountain, nearly 
in the same place I first traveled, which was the 
first path ever made to the top of Mount Wash- 
ington. You will pass along to where a man 
and his wife were once traveling, with one horse, 
in what used to be called a pung, and met in 
Jheir way a moose' The snow was deep, and 



^00 BISTORT OF THE 

he thinking he had a right to liis path, refused 
to turn out ; but when they came . near, the 
moose jumped over the whole concern and just 
cleared the woman's head. 

Then from the Notch four miles will bring 
you to the old Rosebrook stand, where once 
stood, in or near the road, a shed seventy feet 
long ; and as some hunters were pursuing a 
moose, he came into the road and went directly 
through this shed, passed on by the house, and 
made for the river, and went down the falls, dis- 
locating one of his knee joints. The hunters 
followed about three miles, caught him and made 
a grand feast of him. It was in those days no 
uncommon thing to find these animals at any 
time when they were hunted for. 

This ancient Rosebrook place is thirty-six 
miles from Conway, eighteen from Lancaster, 
eighteen from Franconta, and a good road we 
now have over Cherry Mountain, where once 
was a good turnpike, and it may be traveled 
with safety, both summer and winter towards 
Jefferson ; this place, also, is eighteen miles 
from Littleton ; and stages run six times a week 
alternately, coming from Conway Mondays, 
Thursdays, add Saturdays — resting on Sundays, 
and arrives at either place, at night, fifty-four 
miles apart ; and when you get to the old Rose- 
brook Place, you are in the most romantic scen- 
ery, perhaps, this side the mountains. 

The reader may suppose me partial to this 
place, and well he may, as I have lived here so 
long, and have seen good times with my friends, 



WHITE MOUNTAINS. 201 

who extend all over the land in every du'ection ; 
and from this place, also, we have a good horse 
path to Trinity Height, the summit of Mount 
Washington. Nearly seven miles of this road 
is over a comparative level surface, and two and 
one quarter miles is on rising ground ; and many 
have seated themselves on a hoi*se at the house, 
and never dismounted until they have been to 
the top of the mountain and returned. This can 
be accomplished in six to nine hours. Parties 
often stop by the way and fish for trout. These 
in old times were plenty, and of large size ; but 
in this day, having so many fishing for them, 
they do not have time to grow very large before 
they are called for. But they are excelleat, ail- 
though small. Trout is the only kind of fish 
caught in these cold streams about the Hills, and 
not much game is left excepting deer, which 
live here yet, and are caught now and then by 
having good dogs to find and follow them until 
tired out — sometimes the dog kills them, some- 
times the hunter. Sometimes they are driven 
to the meadow, sometimes to the Pond, where 
they are hunted after in canoes, and taken or 
killed. 

As in the Providence of God, every thing 
changes in this world, the weather now is not so 
cold as it formerly was ; we have now scarcely 
a week of steady cold, when, in former times, 
I have heard grandmother say, she has seen six 
weeks at a time that neither the heat from her 
log cabin, nor the sun would soften the snow so 
much as to cause one drop of water to fall from 



203 HlSTOJtr OF THK 

the eaves of the house ; and we now seldom 
liave over two feet of snow at a time, and in 
years past it was no uncommon thing to have 
from six to nine feet. I have [seen nine feet 
measured upon a level surface, and have known 
the snow to fall in less than twenty-four hours, 
twenty-seven inches. Yet we have early and 
late frosts in the spring, and early frosts in the 
fall, which prevents our raising such things as 
the frost injures ; but we generally can raise 
good oats and potatoes, and somtimes wheat, rye 
and peas. In 1820, I raised some round corn, 
but have never since had any get ripe. There 
is not a better place in New England for cattle 
and sheep, than this. Goats and mules would 
do well, but they are too troublesome. 

We can now go to Portland and back with a 
team, in from six to eight days ; in old times, it 
has taken twenty-two days to go from Lancas- 
ter to Portland, and back : and the snow was so 
deep at one time that they were obliged to leave 
their horses seven days in one place before they 
could be moved. The average time of snow in 
the fall is about the first of Novvember, and it 
goes off generally the first of April, so thai about 
the middle of May, we here begin to plough and 
prepare our ground for raising such things as the 
climate will permit. Fowls do well here, such 
as ducks, geese, chickens ; and the turkey hero 
is excellent. WeYhaye kept pigeons, but they 
never seemed to increase to do much, only 
serving to amuse the children. Bees do well 
here and are common in the woods. They 



WHITE MOUNTAINS. 20H 

make the best flavored honey, as they have such 
a variety of wild flowers to extract their sweets 
from. As for pork, we do not raise enough here 
to support our own famihcs ; but depend on buy- 
ing, principally, for our own use. There is 
some maple sugar made in different places about 
these mountains, but little in comparison to what 
there was in former times. And the probable 
amount of trout caught from one year to another, 
according to my judgment, in the Amanoosuc 
and Saco rivers, is from six to seven hundred 
weight. The average weight is from four ounces 
to eight. There have been some caught here, 
forty years ago, that would weigh four and five 
pounds, and many and large ones now are found 
in the vicinity, in several directions. And sal- 
mon have been taken here, fifty years since, of 
ten pounds weight. Three or four hundred dif- 
ferent Alpine White Mountain plants are found 
about here ; and there are still found on some of 
the slides, near the Willey, or old Notch House, 
handsome minerals or crystalized quartz. There 
used to be great quantities of fur taken round 
these mountains ; but wild animals have all 
been hunted so much, they are getting to be 
scared ; but there is some sable or martin, and 
some few other animals caught every year. I 
will give the minutes of the weather. 



204 



WHITE MOUNTAINS. 



1844. 






k 










^ 




July 22, 


38 


87 


60 


July 27, 


28 


68 


56 


" 23, 


67 


78 


66 


" 28, 


30 


78 


54 


♦' 24, 


49 


79 


60 


" 29, 


54 


78 


63 


*' 25, 


52 


66 


51 


" 30, 


50 


71 


64 


*' 26, 


38 


70 


56 


" 31, 


64 


66 


58 




QQ tN» 


^ 




C5 fc* 


&j 




2 "^ 


g 




~ '^>. 






2 rT 






S '^'* 


g 






Cl 




s- ^ 
^ ^ 


i^ 




^^ 






ha 




1845. 


N 






^ 




January 3( 


), 


*8 


10 


*4 


February 4 


, 


*2 


10 


4 


31 




15 


*1 


*5 


5 




20 


IS 


14 


February ] 


l' 


*22 


*2 


*21 


6 




6 


2 


2 


" i 


> 


*33 


*6 


*12 


7 




2 


4 


1 


I 


I, 


*34 


*8 


*6 


8 




*1 


6 


3 


*Below zei 


0. 



















This is the register of the thermometer for A. 
D. 1844 — 5. When, on the whole, we had a 
moderate winter, for this part of the country, and 
the summers, in general, are not so warm as 
they were formerly. As the land is cleared, 
perhaps the winds in summer having greater 
range, render the atmosphere more pleasant; 
and in winter, snow that used to fall upon the 
stumps and bushes, and all level places, is blown 
off by the winds, and there is generally a cooler, 
more dry, and salubrious air. 




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Treatment Date 



1SS8 ' 



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PRESERVATION 1 hCHNOLOGIES. 
11 1 Thomson Park Drive 
Cranberry Township. PA 16066 
(724)779-2111 



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